Orphans Used by Temple Director to Make Money
a WordPress rating system
Many people online through news sites, forums, and blogs are expressing their outrage at this story. We’ve translated the original Vietnamese text and are including reader comments for you.
Translated from: Nguoi Lao Dong
Additional photos from: Dan Tri
By constructing a building with the name “Tiên Phước 2 Temple” and gathering orphaned children to raise, a so-called “nun” has quickly become rich with money from sympathetic donors.
On a Sunday morning, our reporters went to Tien Phuoc 2 “Temple” located in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Tan District. Getting there, we were initially struck by the apparent professional marketing work of a so-called “nun”.
Outside Chùa Tiên Phước 2 (Tien Phuoc 2 Temple)
Donations and gifts in storage
Despite the piles of donated goods, babies still sleep on bare bed surfaces
Between National Highway 1A and the “temple,” which was no more than 500m, there were a total of 4 direction signs guiding vistors to the “Tien Phuoc 2 Temple for Ophaned Children and Lotus Compassion School”.
At the end of an alleyway, stood a three-storey house with yellow paint on its exterior, a spacious interior and a Buddha statuette – exactly the place “nun” Nguyễn Thị Vân tự referred to as a “temple” for orphans.
The ground floor was an area for storing donated goods, while the first floor was the “nun’s” air-conditioned bedroom. The entire second floor served as the eating and play area for 13 children of various ages.
There was little Nguyễn Thanh Hoa Sen, a 3 year-old, whose face was constantly grimacing because a bluish-purple buise swelled on her forehead. Little Nguyễn Thanh Phương was a handsome 3-year old child with fair skin,
but had white scales on his scalp due to a fungal infection and hair falling out
in pieces.
There were partitions on each bed as infants and toddlers up to 3 slept next to each other. But they would scratch with each other’s faces, and even newborns would sometimes get crushed. On the hard tiled floor, an older child knocked a younger child over, causing the little one to scream in tears.
While we were there, we happened to meet a group of visitors who came in with a large cartons of powdered milk.
Mrs. N.T.H., who was part of the group, disclosed that “In our experience, you have to peel open the milk tub like this so that the children will hopefully get to drink it. Otherwise she’ll get a trader to sell all the milk.”
According to the stories of many neighbours, usually during weekend evenings, “nun” Vân would make calls to vendors outside and arrange to sell all the various donated milk given by people who came to the temple.
Very Rich “Buddhist Nun”
In early 2011, 57 mothers from from a volunteers association collectively wrote to Báo Người Lao Động (The Workers Newspaper). The content was about Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Vân and her Tien Phuoc 2 Temple taking advantage of 13 orphaned children to make money under the guise of charity.
After donating lots of money for the care of unfortunate children for a long time, many well-meaning families discovered that Mrs. Vân was indeed a fake. Her work was not done out of charity, but instead being used for selfish greed.
A lot of money and goods were donated for charity, but Mrs. Vân collected the proceeds to buy land and build houses. All the while, the children were left in deprivation, and sick.
What’s worse, when some families opened their hearts, including the Red Cross of Ho Chi Minh City, the condition of a sick child named Hoa Quỳnh was not considered. But instead, Mrs. Vân continually refused to bring the child to a hospital for treatment.
"Buddhist nun" Nguyễn Thị Vân and some orphans
Little Hoa Quỳnh is shown here
Mrs. T.L.P., a forum member of a charity, explained: “She wants all the children to suffer and be sick. That way, she can easily ask patrons to donate. Hoa Quỳnh has symptoms of cerebral palsy, with scabies sores all over her body, but Mrs. Vân leaves her in a crib outside for all visitors to see, eliciting pity to collect money.
According to our investigation, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Vân came to Ho Chi Minh City from a central province with empty hands. After about 10 years of “building a career” caring for orphans, Mrs. Vân has been able to purchase three houses. Across from the “temple” is a building with three spacious floors and a sign that reads: “Lotus Compassion School”.
Next to it, is a 5-floor building currently under construction, sitting on land Mrs. Vân recently purchased with a worth of 500 million VND (about $25,000 USD). On top of the building, a sign proclaims: “A Tien Phuoc 2 Temple Orphange project,” along with words soliciting donations for the construction.
Mrs. Vân’s neighbours and former staff told us, even though signs may read “Tien Phuoc 2 Temple,” there is almost never any incense smoke or even a shadow of a Buddhist worshipper to be seen.
Updates January 9
Shape up or get out! says Buddhist Association
On the evening of January 9, speaking with a Báo Người Lao Động (The Workers Newspaper) reporter, Thích Thiện Tánh, Assistant Head of the Buddhist Associaton of Ho Chi Minh City, said that his organization was intervening and looking for solutions.
In their opinion, the head of the temple in question must fix any wrongs or give up all operations under the name of the temple, as the temple operated without permission frm the Buddhist Association.
The Buddhist Association has asked a committee represenative for Binh Tan District to seek a resolution, but have not received his response yet.
Many Wrongs Found says Labour and Social Welfare Service
A joint inspection of Tien Phuoc 2 was conducted by the Labour and Social Welfare Service along with appropriate local authorities.
It was determined that the “temple” had been operating without proper paperwork, the orphans had inadequate living conditions, and receipts for donations were not clear.
Moreover, milk that had been donated for the children was resold by Mrs. Vân. She initially admitted to selling 148 cartons.
According to Mrs. Lại Thị Kim Lan, an official of the Labour and Social Welfare Service for Binh Tan District, Mrs. Vân had made an application for an operating license but it was not approved because adequate conditions could not be guaranteed.
Finally, if Tien Phuoc 2 “Temple” does not take necessary steps to improve in the near future, authorities will force it to dissolve. The children would be sent to the care of government-run social welfare centres in the city.
Update January 21 with excerpts from: VietNamNet
Inspectors from the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) forced the closure of Tien Phuoc 2 Orphanage at 17/66/26 Lien khu 5-6 Street in Binh Hung Hoa B Ward owned by Nguyen Thi Van.
Under the decision announced to local authorities and media, the illegal orphanage failed to meet standards for environmental hygiene, facilities and financial management.
It also did not comply with health care and food safety regulations, which had led to child deaths, inspectors said.
Thirteen children at the orphanage would be transferred to the DoLISA-run Thu Duc Teenagers Village for care in Thu Duc District.
Though total donations from philanthropists amounted to VND1.01 billion (US$50,500), 15,575 euros ($21,805) and other gifts, inspectors said children at the orphanage
There was one case in which Van prevented one child from returning to his family, they said.
One child died on Jan 9 after the inspection. Police have been investigating the cause.
Loading ...Select comments translated from: Nguoi Lao Dong
Vu:
This "ghost temple" has to be shut down immediately and the children there need to sent to a place where they will be properly cared for so that they can have a brighter future. Seize and confiscate all of the assets that woman gained from taking advantage of people’s sympathies and sell it. Then give that money to charities that have competence and integrity to continue caring for other children in similar difficult circumstances.
nguyễn hòa:
This can be seen as a case of fraud. For the orphaned children it’s quite callous. All of the assets need to be confiscated right away, and the "nun" prosecuted. Every philanthropist should remember to carefully research beforehand the place you are going to donate to, otherwise you will unwittingly enrich the heartless and evil.
Tuấn Hùng:
I don’t understand how an operation like this isn’t shut down already but is allowed to continue, without permission, without professionalism, taking advantage of children to for one’s own interest. I give up (Bó tay)!
M.Vi:
Please rescue all the children from this hell on earth!
Nguyễn Liên:
I am one of the mothers who signed the letter of appeal to ask the authorities to rescue you children, and one of the people who saw firsthand the life in which you are living. My heart is truly broken. I hope that the Labour and Social Welfare Service will quickly act to rescue you all. I have also received shocking news that the girl, Hoa Quỳnh (one of the children at this temple), has just passed away. Please quickly save these children from this hell so that we don’t receive more shocking news.
Tất Thắng:
It’s truly a shame. Whenever there’s a public issue everyone gathers to criticize. You all speak without a single trace of emotion. Let me ask you something, if there was a temple that took in orphaned children, and this temple turned out to be a sham, would it still even exist today? Have any of you given a single penny to this temple? Is there anyone brave enough to adopt one of these children? Well, stealing from the rich to give to the poor is better than all of you!
Phương:
@Tất Thắng: I am one of the people who have been to this "temple" at a time when it wasn’t expanding like now. My friends and I have given money to help because we saw the situation there of the children, little ones who are worth loving. Quite a few people among us suggested to the nun to give us permission to adopt some children but she refused. Suspicious about the operations at this “temple”, we decided to give items only (not money). But now we’ve stopped altogether. I urgently suggest that the authorities get involved to create an adequate condition for these children. This situation can’t drag on for any longer.
Phạm Quốc Hùng:
There’s more!!! I live only 50m away from this "teacher" so I know what her true nature really is like. What the reporter knows isn’t the whole truth. This morning (January 10, 2011) at Mrs. Van’s house, that is, Tien Phuoc 2 Temple, my relatives and I saw firsthand Mrs. Van bring a child that had died last night to the Binh Hung Hoa crematorium. But the problem is, we didn’t know if she had gotten a death certificate as we hadn’t seen the authorities come by to certify the death of the child. We waited all day until 6:00pm this evening, then I called Mr. Vu at the head of our area and he said he hadn’t heard anything from the temple. I’m guessing when the child died, Mrs. Van did not report the death to the appropriate authorities, and instead went ahead to cremate the body. What do you all think of these details?
NLD:
Today, January 11, there was a death of one of the children at the place. It’s truly heartbreaking.
Select comments translated from: LinkHay
Bin23:
The other day it was real cold in Hanoi. While I was eating, a girl about 4 years old was selling chewing gum. As a favour, I bought from her one pack and gave her another 10,000 VND (about $0.50 USD) of money. I will never know if that money will really go into her pocket or not. My own child is just a bit younger but I’ll carefully wrap and bundle (him/her?) before going out. But some people are truly heartless!
say_hello:
This lady will be torn to pieces when she dies, just wait and see. It’s so sad for the little children.
a WordPress rating system
It’s really too bad that there are people/places like this. They make it difficult for real charities to do their work :(
It seems that Tien Phuoc 2 has duped some corporate and international aid donors as well:
http://stop-poverty.com/references.html
In many case,new born babies are even found in trash bin >”< Some of them is bitten to dead by fire ants . Don't understand what kind of irresponsible parents like that .
In Vietnam, parents still prefer boys, so baby girls are more likely to die young. I read that some parents even abort the fetus after they found out what sex it is, and that this is still happens too often.
Normally I’m against killing but this article slaughtered my ingonrace.
James, I think Iran can avehice better relations with many countries if it continues to show it is not developing nuclear weapons and has no wish to begin such development. That sounds like an entirely sensible view to me. If that is its objective, as I believe it is, I think Iran can and should do more to show it is not developing nuclear weapons and has no wish to begin such development. I understand you do too.