Building Hope, Dignity and Opportunity

Mission 72 took the Change the One team back to Vietnam to inspect several major projects funded by our generous supporters and to strengthen partnerships that will help transform many more lives in the years ahead.

Representing Change the One were Founder & Chairman Peter Nicholls and Secretary Chris Tierney, who travelled from Melbourne to Hanoi before undertaking the seven-hour journey through the spectacular mountains of northern Vietnam to the beautiful town of Sapa. They were later joined by Committee Member Abigail Quilloy as the mission continued into Central Vietnam.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲'𝐬 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

One of the most emotional moments of the mission was visiting the family of Ky, a graduate of KOTO (Know One, Teach One), introduced to us by KOTO's Founder, Jimmy Pham.

Only months earlier, tragedy had struck when Ky's father passed away from cancer at just 43 years of age, leaving behind his wife and ten children. Before his passing, he had begun building a new home for his family, hoping to provide them with a safer and brighter future. Sadly, with the family's only income gone, construction came to a standstill.

Recognising the desperate need, Change the One committed to funding the completion of the home, ensuring the family could finally move into a safe, secure and dignified place to live.

Travelling through the breathtaking rice terraces surrounding Sapa, Peter and Chris visited the remote village where the family welcomed them with enormous warmth and gratitude. They spent time with Ky, his mother and eight of his brothers and sisters, seeing firsthand the resilience and optimism of a family determined to rebuild their lives.

Although construction was nearing completion, unusually heavy seasonal rains had delayed the final stages. Several timber fittings and building materials had become damp and required drying before installation could continue. Despite the delay, it was inspiring to witness the remarkable transformation that had taken place.

𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞

A house becomes a home through comfort, security and love.

To help the family begin their new chapter, Change the One purchased essential household appliances, including a refrigerator, washing machine, cooktop, kettle and other household necessities, together with new mattresses for every member of the family.

Adding an extra touch of warmth were the beautiful handmade quilts generously donated by Cheryl Sidebottom and the wonderful volunteers from Quilts for Orphans. Each quilt represented far more than bedding - it symbolised love, kindness and the knowledge that people thousands of kilometres away genuinely cared about their future.

The joy on the children's faces reminded us why we do what we do.

Recognising that access to the home remained difficult, particularly during the wet season, Change the One also committed to funding the construction of a new access footpath, ensuring the family can safely reach their home and allowing motorbike access for transport, work and everyday living.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭

Mission 72 was also an opportunity to revisit families previously assisted by Change the One and witness the long-term impact of our projects.

We visited one remarkable family who had previously received an electric wheelchair for their young son, providing him with greater mobility, independence and a vastly improved quality of life. During the visit, it was heartwarming to see how this life-changing gift continues to benefit not only him but his entire family.
This same family had also received dairy cows through Change the One's sustainable livelihood program. The cows continue to provide milk, breeding opportunities and an ongoing source of income, helping the family move towards greater financial independence.

We also visited another family who had previously been gifted dairy cows through Change the One. It was wonderful to see that their original cows had now grown into a small herd of three, demonstrating exactly what our sustainability programs are designed to achieve. Rather than providing temporary assistance, these projects continue creating opportunities for families to build a brighter future for themselves.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Another deeply moving visit was to the Thiện Tâm Social Assistance Centre, where Change the One has committed to funding the construction of a brand-new facility for children with severe disabilities and their families.

During our visit we delivered food and essential supplies for the children and spent valuable time with the dedicated staff and families who provide around-the-clock care. Witnessing their love, resilience and unwavering commitment reinforced our determination to help create a purpose-built centre that will provide a safe, welcoming and dignified environment for generations of children to come.

This project has now become one of Change the One's highest priorities and is a major focus of our fundraising efforts.

𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Our commitment extends well beyond simply building houses or delivering aid.

The family home in Sapa occupies a stunning location overlooking a river and waterfall, surrounded by the magnificent mountain scenery and rice terraces that attract thousands of visitors each year.

Working alongside our local partners, Change the One has begun planning the next stage of support by helping establish a small café and viewing area in the home. This initiative aims to create a sustainable source of income by welcoming tourists and trekkers visiting the region, empowering the family through employment rather than dependence.

Throughout Vietnam, our philosophy remains unchanged:

Whenever possible, we don't simply provide assistance - we help create opportunities that continue changing lives for years to come.

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬

Mission 72 also provided valuable opportunities to meet with our long-standing friends and partners.
We spent time with Jimmy Pham, Founder of KOTO, discussing future opportunities to support disadvantaged young people through education, employment and community development.

We also met with the leadership team from the Hope Foundation, inspecting both the completed water filtration systems and the new sanitation block projects while planning future initiatives, including the construction of the new Thiện Tâm Social Assistance Centre and a new kindergarten, kitchen, toilets and clean drinking water facilities for children living in the remote mountain community of Nóc Ông Ruộng.

These partnerships are built on shared values of transparency, sustainability and ensuring every dollar donated creates genuine, lasting impact.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬

Mission 72 was a powerful reminder that changing the world doesn't always require enormous projects.
Sometimes it begins with finishing a home.

Sometimes it begins with a wheelchair that restores independence.

Sometimes it begins with a dairy cow that provides a family's future.

Sometimes it begins with delivering food to children with severe disabilities.

Sometimes it begins with a mattress, a quilt or a simple act of kindness.

Most importantly, it begins by standing beside people during the most difficult chapters of their lives and simply saying:

"𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞."

None of this would have been possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters, sponsors and volunteers.

𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬—𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.