A box of books won't change the world, but it can make some souls happy.

John Hickok, a librarian and an English instructor at the California State University at Fullerton came back Vietnam last month (April 09).

He carried along about 150 copies of books for kids and decided to share a half for the Vietnamese kids and another half for the Cambodian kids. Those books were donated by students at his university.

Receiving foreign books in this country is not simple. No public school can make it without the consent of local authorities. But, finally, we could find a place to donate the books. It is Mai Tam House lead by Father Toai.

Mai Tam House currently is a living place for over 50 kids and 15 mothers who got the HIV-AIDS disease. Father Toai established this place few years ago, and he is waiting for the permit from the government to operate this House officially.

I talked with a young lady. She told that she came from Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province, central Vietnam. She was the former worker in Binh Duong Industrial Park. Once her daughter got sick, she took her daughter to Nhi Dong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and found that her daughter and herself got the HIV-AIDS pandemic. She heard about Mai Tam and asked Father Toai to stay here for the rest of their lives.

Looking at the kids, I find that they are very cue. These kids can not read English but they can see pictures. A small box of books won't change the world, but can make these kids happy.

If you can make a donation, please send your books to:

Mai Tam House (Father Toai)

29/84/17 Doan Thi Diem Street

Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District

Ho Chi Minh City