Two school teachers, Jake Norris (36) from South Australia and Sean Down (44) from Ireland are embarking on a trailblazing trek to support Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation – an organisation with a mission to end human trafficking - and Thanh Loc project - a charity organisation to transform the lives of deprived children in Vietnam.
Jake and Sean will spend the next three months walking 2000 km from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City via a mountainous route that has never before been attempted. The friends hope to raise over US$200,0000, which will be divided equally between the two charities. The Australian Embassy is sponsoring the walkers in recognition of Australia’s commitment to counter-trafficking and as part of its activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
Jake, who has lived in Hanoi for seven years, and his teammates at the Vietnam Swans AFL club (Australian rules football) visit an orphanage every year to play with the kids and bring them gifts. This highlighted the difficult lives some children have in Vietnam and Jake felt an urge to help change the situation. His ambitious idea of a charity walk began to form during the Covid lockdown three years ago.
“I finally had time to really start planning something – something that would create significant change,” he says. “I wanted to give back to the country and its people who have given me so much.”
When Jake’s original partner pulled out, Sean stepped in to revive The Vietnam Charity Walk. Having quit their jobs in May to focus on training and fundraising, the pair will set off on the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail on December 2, departing from Hanoi’s Opera House. They plan to stop at every orphanage on their way and look forward to engaging with the local communities and raising awareness of how many kids need help in Vietnam. As animal lovers, they will also stop at animal shelters along the route.
Explaining their choice of route, Sean says: “One reason we chose such a difficult route away from the flat, major highways people usually use, is to give ourselves more chances to be among local communities. Our trail adds an extra challenge because it’s longer, sparsely populated, and mountainous in parts.”
Jake concludes: “I’m a bit worried because I’m an athlete, I’ve played AFL most of my life, and the knees, ankles and hips aren’t getting any younger. But I love a challenge! Three long years of preparation and several false starts later, we’re finally about to begin.”
Follow the journey via their Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts @vietnamcharitywalk.
To donate, visit gogetfunding.com/Vietnam-charity-walk. For more information, email Jake at: [email protected]
Journalists who want to cover the start of the walk or speak with Jake, Sean or Australia’s Charge d’Affairs Mark Tattersall on Saturday 2 December at 8am should contact Ms Nguyen Le Trang, Senior Media Officer at the Australian Embassy on [email protected] or 0983656307 before 12pm on Friday 1 December.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
According to UNICEF, nearly 5.5 million children in Vietnam experience at least two deprivations in health, education, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation, or social inclusion. It is estimated that 100 children under the age of five die every day.
Since September, Sean and Jake have raised $12,500 USD towards the cause through events in Hanoi, including A$5,000 from the Australian Embassy.
Blue Dragon
Half of the cash raised will be donated to Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, which fights to end human trafficking. Children growing up in extreme poverty are often forced to quit school and move far from home, exposing them to dangers such as trafficking, homelessness, sexual exploitation, drug abuse and illness.
Jake said: “Families are tricked, it’s a scam – when their child is just 10 or 11, they are told ‘your kid’s going to work in a coffee shop and we will send money back to you. They might never see them again after that. In the West, we don’t understand how common this is. It’s something that’s not talked about enough.”
And Sean added: “According to Blue Dragon, every dollar raised brings a child 1km closer to home.”
For more information about Blue Dragon’s Children’s Foundation, visit: bluedragon.org
Thanh Loc Project
The second charity to benefit from the walk will be the Thanh Loc Project. As well as providing education to underprivileged children, the organisation builds classrooms, libraries and homes for families.
Rod Stone, founder of Thanh Loc Project, said: “Just over $250 USD is enough to put one child through school for a full year paying for their tuition fees, textbooks, personal health insurance, backpacks, uniforms; everything the child would need for a full year of our education. Most of these kids go to school for the first time through our student education scholarship programs. It’s an amazing achievement so far.”
For more information about the Thanh Loc Project, visit: https://www.facebook.com/ThanhLocProject
The Vietnam Charity Walk: Who, What, Where, When and Why