Dust of Life? 2004

"We believe the December 10 President's Appeal has given the children at the shelter another chance of life. On behalf of each child at the Youth Shelter in Ho Chi Minh City, we thank you." Binh Rybacki, founder of COPI

Children of Peace International (COPI) became SI's chosen partner for the 2004 President's Appeal. They had been working at the Ho Chi Minh Youth Shelter in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam since 2002, striving to improve the living conditions of over 500 children who had been brought there as prostitutes, thieves and street peddlers. These children, many of whom had been sold into slavery, prostitution and child labour by their poverty stricken parents, were known as bui doi, 'dust of life' - of no value whatsoever. Once they became too 'old' to work, or contracted HIV/AIDS, they were thrown on to the streets. COPI's goal was to restore the lives of these children to 'normal'. The normality the children craved was simply to be safe, loved, respected and allowed to grow up in peace.

Soroptimist donations provided positive changes in the operation of the shelter, transforming the lives of the children. By providing financial support over the next five years, COPI was given the right to oversee the daily life of the children and to appoint a specialised worker to advocate for them. Further substantial improvements were made possible by SI member donations.