Ha's journey to Anh Linh

Ha is probably one of the smallest kids you would ever meet. At age 11 she looks like she is about 4 or 5 years old. Two years ago the police brought her to Anh Linh school. She had lived her life picking up garbage off the streets with her "aunt". However, it is assumed that she was used and abused for begging.

"When she first got to school she would go through the garbage everyday and ferret out the old pencils, paper and bits of ruler and proudly show us her new book," says Sr. Cam Thuy, principal of Anh Linh.

Ha was give a spot in the girl's dormitory, several stuffed animals and an older girl, an "angel", to help her start learning how to live in a house, and socialize with the kids. She has been learning how to do her chores (washing her own clothes, sweeping, mopping, making dinner and cleaning). She has learned to embroider and has just begun making beaded figures. She is now reading at a second grade level, and enjoys math, literature, social studies and other school subjects. She is provided with a uniform, meals, medical care and a monthly hair cut.

Today she got a gift from her sponsor April Hickel which included barrettes. She has been wearing different barrettes every hour and says that this is the first present she has ever had.

Her future looks bright at Anh Linh school. As one of thirty girls in the middle school dormitory, she can stay at Anh Linh for as long as it takes for her to graduate. By the time she can handle high school work, the school should have the classes. And, if she manages to make it to college, she can live at Anh Linh and go to college. Bridges2Learning.org is financing about 70% of the funds received by Anh Linh school. The support received by children like Ha gives hope and opportunity to children who would have ended up dead, or worse.