So how did New Zealanders get involved with a children’s learning centre in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam? One of the first New Zealanders to see the difference that Blue Dragon is making to the lives of hundreds of children was Alison Kember, wife of James Kember, New Zealand Ambassador in Hanoi from 2006 to 2009.
Alison, a secondary school teacher, worked as a volunteer at Blue Dragon where she taught English to young Vietnamese women. Through Alison, several New Zealand schools started fundraising for Blue Dragon. Wellington College has been fundraising for Blue Dragon over several years while Hutt International Boys School has made Blue Dragon the focus of its International Service programme. The Taupo Language and Outdoor Education Centre has offered two ten-week scholarships to Blue Dragon students. And finally, a number of New Zealanders have visited the Blue Dragon learning centre when they have been in Hanoi.
Blue Dragon Children’s Trust (New Zealand) was set up in 2010 to provide an easy way for New Zealanders to make donations and promote any fundraising activities.
The trustees, who all live in Wellington
Alison Kember
Dinah Dobson
Iona McNaughton
Sue Chamberlain
Sue Gifford
Kirsty Hazledine
Louise Binns
Blue Dragon supporters
Wellington College
Hutt International Boys School, Lower Hutt
Taupo Language and Outdoor Education Centre
National Technology Institute, Auckland
Mt Roskill College, Auckland
