Operation Smile – Rock & Goal

Rock & Goal was a football tournament and rock concert organised in aid of the Operation Smile charity, which raises money to help children with facial deformities.

TRG sent along its finest players to take part in the football competition and, taking the proverb “It’s not the winning that counts, but the taking part” as their maxim, they gave their all over two days of matches in sweltering conditions.

Playing against some teams with much more experience and training, the TRG side, backed by a very vocal group of supporters, acquitted themselves with great enthusiasm and commitment, winning one and losing six of their seven games, but winning praise from their opponents for their never-say-die attitude.

For more about Operation Smile, click below:
http://www.operationsmile.org/missions/reports/?country=VN

Protec

Every year, thousands of motorcyclists and passengers (including many children) are killed in accidents on Vietnam’s roads, yet despite these alarming statistics, few people wear helmets when driving. The heat and humidity make helmets feel heavy and uncomfortable, and many riders see helmets as unfashionable or “uncool”, nicknaming them “rice cookers” because of their ungainly appearance.

In 2002 the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, an American NGO, established the world’s first non-profit motorcycle helmet factory – PROTEC - near Hanoi. Its mission – to manufacture stylish, light, affordable helmets and encourage Vietnamese motorcyclists and their passengers to wear them. TRG has helped Protec by building and hosting its website, for which we received payment in helmets, which we donated to our staff. We also bought more helmets to make sure that all our staff are protected when driving to and from our offices, and will shortly be arranging the donation of children’s helmets.

Saigon Children’s Charity

Founded in 1992, SCC aims to give disadvantaged children a better start in life. Its projects include building rural schools, supplying bicycles to allow children in remote areas to attend school, and organising vocational training.

In 2006, TRG International sent click-to-donate Christmas cards to its clients and partners, raising $500 for SCC which allowed them to supply approximately 80 children with school equipment (pens, stationery etc) for a year.

15th May School

15th May School provides free education for poor street children living in Ho Chi Minh City. Many of its pupils are victims of abuse and thus have psychological or behavioural issues, so the school runs an active theatre, dance and circus programme to encourage the children’s self-expression and boost their confidence.

Staff at TRG’s 2006 xmas party were thoroughly entertained by a display of hip-hop dancing by some of the school’s pupils, for which TRG made a donation to the school as well as giving Christmas gifts to the delighted children.