I’m a welding instructor at Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington, located a “stone’s throw” from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.  I’ve been teaching students welding skills for 18 years, and I’ve enjoyed receiving and reading The World of Welding magazine.

I’m embarking on an adventure this summer.  Welding has taken me many places but I never thought I’d end up in Vietnam!  Last year, a representative from Kids First Vietnam (KFV) contacted me about the possibility of teaching Vietnamese young people who are handicapped.  The students would be arriving from Quang Tri Province, an area that was heavily hit by Agent Orange during the U.S. invasion of Vietnam.  To make a long story short, I’ll be traveling to Quang Tri for a month in order to teach trainers and students TIG and MIG skills so eventually students who learn welding skills will be able to manufacture wheelchairs for third world countries.  I suggest you check out their web site www.kidsfirstvietnam.org.  This site gives you a very good overview of the project.

Currently, there is a school (300 students), training, and manufacturing buildings.  However, because the organization, KFV is a nonprofit group, we are in need of shop supplies (chop saw, tube bender, notcher, 2-inch belt sander) and welding equipment (4 MIG and 2 TIG, 220 single or three phase, I think).  We are in need of training aids (which could be translated into Vietnamese at UW in Seattle).  The buildings are erected but they’re empty.  Monetary donations are also welcomed.

I’m scheduled to leave August 23, 2004, and work with the students for a month at the KFV site.  I was thinking that perhaps you could forward our requests to your readers for donations to the KFV project.  Every little bit helps.  My college is sponsoring my trip to Vietnam.

Thank you.

Chris Hobson
Olympic College
Bremerton, WA
chobson@oc.ctc.edu 

Kids First Vietnam
P.O. Box 11814, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206-780-2721, Fax: 206-780-2717

http://www.kidsfirstvietnam.org
Email: kidsfirst@kidsfirstvietnam.org