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120th Anniversary
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The year 2009 celebrates the 120th anniversary of
Kim Long Orphanage. The boarding school of the Holy Childhood (Sainte
Enfance – Vien Duc Anh) first opened in 1889.
After the treaty of June 4th, 1885 with China, France took control of IndoChina of which Vietnam was a part.
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In 1969,. During the American War in Vietnam, Bob Staranowicz, an American soldier often
visited the orphanage bringing the laundry of his company that was based
along the road between Huê and the Phu Bai airport. He enjoyed moments here
that made him and his friends forget about the war for a few short hours.
Bob sent
us these two pictures in May 2008, asking us whether this was our orphanage
that was so important to him at the time. He received the positive reply
that , indeed, it was. Since then,
Bob has become (again) a true friend of Son Ca where he will revisit in
January 2009, some 40 years later.
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1969: Tu & Lân
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2009: Tu, Lân and Bob
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In 1976, once the Communists gained control
of the entire country, the buildings of Kim Long were confiscated. The
Government used them to set-up the city’s hospital, leaving us only the house
for the sisters and some dirty slums. Unfortunately, there are no pictures
remaining that would record the first 100
years of the orphanage. They were all destroyed in the War. Our only
source is Sister Xavier. At the age of 82, she can remember some facts since she has been
at Kim Long since 1969.
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In 1990, one year prior to the reopening of
the country, Sister Chantal was assigned the responsibility of the orphanage by the
Congregation of the Sisters of Chartres. She has built and rebuilt
everything with her own hands, little by little, until she could offer the
children and our sisters a school and a decent home.
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2009, 120 years later…
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