Band for the Blind 2008

We Need Your Help

During this project and many others we have come to know and appreciate the dedicated staff and officials who work at the handicapped children’s center where there are over 40 blind children, over 100 deaf children and others with birth defects, agent orange and post polio victims. For the past six years we have delivered Tet holiday gifts and distributed the Samaritan’s Purse Shoe boxes.

For the past two years the Australians provided special Christmas Shoe Boxes for the blind for the Tet Holiday celebration which we distributed in January. As usual the Center provided us with a wonderful musical program of the children playing the keyboard, the traditional instruments, singing and dancing. And lots of thank you speeches. One young man who is their star speaker, singer and musician (born without eyes) provided a special number playing the saxophone. He had it a short period of time (always wanted to play the sax) and was very good at it. Someone heard his plea and donated this sax. After the performance, the gift giving and a lovely luncheon the officials and staff asked if it was possible for us to have western style instruments donated so they could develop a western style band. They love American style music. (We have done this before for the Thuy An Ba Vi Orphanage where most of the children are deaf or post polio.)

We asked for your help

They had the keyboards and the sound system. They had the space, the knowledge and lots of time to practice. All they needed were the instruments and the sheet music. You, your family and friends donated many instruments – sax, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombones, violins, etc. The Motherland Tour travelers and others carried in over 25 instruments and there is another 12 to be taken over.

Now we need your help again.

Everything is in place to develop the Band for the Blind except we do not have a teacher. We are trying to raise $5,000 to hire a teacher for a year to teach western style instruments, and reading and playing as a band. Once the staff and students learn to play they can they will be able to teach themselves.

We would also encourage future volunteers to continue go to Ben Tre for a week or as long as they like and teach them how to play these instruments, develop the band and spend tie with these wonderful talented young people.. This would be a good project for a youth group, church organization or college students. Of course, we always need donations to help pay the costs of repair parts, strings, oils, etc..

Feel free to call or email for additional information

dawn@degenhardtfoundation.org Office 207-532-4107 or cell 207-538-7899

Copyright 2006, The Degenhardt Foundation | 501(c)3 All contributions tax deductible | design by Robyn Smith

Hosted by Bluehost: Get Blue