Christina Noble Children’s Foundation

Christina Noble Children’s Foundation

The Christina Noble Foundation foundation also known as CNCF is a non government organization, which dedicates to serving the worlds oppressed and marginalized children.

Formed in 1989 Christina who from a dream she had, during the time of the Vietnam war of Vietnamese street children begging for help, decided to visit Vietnam and in 1991 founded the foundation in Ho Chi Minh City and then later in 1997 extended the foundation to Mongolia.

Christina’s Background

Her own unforgiving past led her in this way. Born 23rd December 1944 Christina’s mother died when Christina was 10. Then she was placed in a orphanage and dishonestly told of the death of her siblings. She managed to escape and started to live rough in Dublin were she was unfortunately raped. If this wasn’t enough she then had her baby son adopted, against her will. 

If things couldn’t get any more crazy after some time she discovered the state had lied about the death of her siblings to her. Christina after searching found her brother in England moved there to live with him after she turned 18.

This great women, Christina and her thoughtful foundation have to this day established over 160 projects providing education, healthcare and community development humanitarian services to vulnerable children and their families and poor rural communities.

Christina’s achievements

The work of Christina hasn’t gone unnoticed with the release of the film Noble, a story of Christina’s life. And is also the author of 2 autobiographies Bridge Across My Sorrows’ (1994) and Mama Tina (1997).

The charity has helped over 1 million children and adults to date.

A short trailer of the movie Noble can be seen below.

The Orphanage

While on our trip to Vietnam I came across a foundation set up by this Irish lady, to help children that were destined to live on the streets.

As this foundation wasn’t just a walk in I contacted the foundation prior and was granted access for the afternoon.

The organisation now consists of an educational element for school aged children and an incredible rehabilitation sector for children physically maimed by the chemical aftermath of the Vietnam war. The school element teaches common educational capabilities that the students may need in their everyday lives as well as life skills to help them once they are beyond school age.

The other area of the foundation works with babies and children suffering physical growth delays or other deformities. The incredible program run here is done in conjunction with training Irish physiotherapists which means these children have access to treatments that they could never have dreamt of before.

Summary

My visit to this orphanage was certainly a difficult one due to the confronting realities of what these little people have been dealt. Having said that, it was also one of my most cherished memories from the entire trip as I had the opportunity to interact with the children and spend the afternoon watching the amazing volunteers go about their daily activities.

After being granted access i was anxious not knowing what i would be walking into or what may lie ahead. However at the same time excited to lend a hand or just to put a smile on someone’s face.

Please follow the link to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation to find out more CNCF.

We learnt a lot from our time in Vietnam and what it was like during the bad times. A visit to the War Remnants Museum was also very educational and a huge eye opener what the country had to endure.

Thanks for stopping by check out what else we got up to in Vietnam with our Vietnam Food Journey, find out what to do in the city and Vietnam Day Trips From Ho Chi Minh posts.

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