Help Us Give 120 Children Privacy, Dignity & Safe Living Conditions

Hi.

My name is Laela, and I’m currently in Da Nang, Vietnam, volunteering for Volunteer Vietnam. This involves helping local communities, teaching English and visiting schools, orphanages and social centres that support vulnerable children, the elderly and disabled.

Although rewarding, volunteering in this environment can also be hard.

What I saw recently is something I can’t unsee, and I can’t walk away from.

I visited a small local school in Da Nang that houses over 120 children, including orphans and deaf students aged between 6 and 18 years old.

These children are resilient, kind, and full of life. But the conditions they are living in are deeply confronting.

There are only 8 working toilets for all 120 children.

The boys have no private shower facilities.

The girls have to share 2 cubicles.

The boys are forced to shower outdoors, in open spaces, without privacy, or proper sanitation. The area is covered in mould and barely useable… this environment is far from what any child deserves.

This is not just about infrastructure.

This is about basic human rights.

💔 Why This Matters:

Imagine being a child going through puberty…

Imagine having no private space to clean yourself…

Imagine feeling exposed every single day doing something as basic as showering.

These children are already facing significant life challenges — whether that’s being orphaned, living with disabilities, or growing up in difficult circumstances. The last thing they should have to worry about is whether they can bathe safely and privately.

Access to proper hygiene is not a luxury. It is a basic human right.

Without it:

• Health risks increase (skin infections, illness, poor hygiene)

• Confidence and self-esteem decline

• Emotional wellbeing is affected

• School engagement can suffer

This is something that can be fixed and that’s why I’m here asking for your help.

Vietnam isn’t a selected country where go fund me can be used… but Australia is.

I volunteer in Da Nang from Perth WA regularly, the work Volunteer Vietnam does is incredible. The staff work extremely hard, and they need all the support they can get, so i’ve decided to take action and help give these children what they deserve.

Based on a local construction estimate from a Da Nang contractor, the projected cost to rebuild and repair the toilet and shower facilities is approximately:

318,500,000 VND (~$20,000 AUD)

This includes:

• Foundation and base structure

• Septic tank installation

• Construction and finishing (2 levels)

• Concrete roofing

• Bathroom fixtures and equipment

• Renovation of existing damaged toilets

⚠️ Why We Are Raising $30,000 AUD

While the current estimate is around $20,000 AUD, the total fundraising goal has been set at $30,000 AUD to ensure:

• Coverage for unexpected structural or plumbing issues

• Ability to use higher quality, longer-lasting materials

• Completion of additional improvements if needed

• Full transparency without risk of underfunding the project

If we exceed the goal, additional funds will go toward further improvements within Hope Village, including mattresses for the children to sleep on (as they currently sleep on steel bunkbeds with thin mats) and the running costs of the school, like rent, bills & supplies.

Funds will be received and managed by me, Laela Hikmatullah, and used solely for this project.

I will be documenting the entire process, including:

• Before and after footage

• Daily/weekly progress updates

• Material purchases

• On-site construction

I am working closely with trusted local contacts and community members to ensure:

• Costs are fair and not inflated

• Work is completed properly

• The outcome genuinely benefits the children long-term

Where possible, I will also share receipts and cost updates so you can see exactly where your money goes.

This is not a large organisation or charity.

It is a direct, hands-on effort, and you will be able to follow every step of the journey.

This project is not about doing the bare minimum.

It’s about creating something that will last, something that the children can rely on every single day.

Why I Started This:

I didn’t come here planning to start a fundraiser.

But after seeing these conditions in person, speaking to the principal, and understanding the reality these kids live in every day… I knew I couldn’t just leave and pretend I didn’t see it.

This is bigger than me.

This is about using the position I’m in, being able to share this story — to create real, tangible change. I know how powerful social media is and I’m hoping that sharing their story can help spread awareness, help others to be grateful and give people the opportunity to give where it’s genuinely needed and deserved.

How You Can Help:

If you’re reading this, you’re already part of the solution.

Here’s how you can make a real impact:

1. Donate whatever you can

No amount is too small — it all adds up.

2. Share this page

The more people who see this, the faster we can reach our goal.

3. Spread awareness

Even just talking about this helps bring attention to a problem that deserves to be solved.

❤️ A Message From Me

I want to be very clear about something, this isn’t about charity for the sake of it.

This is about restoring dignity, safety, and basic human living conditions for children who deserve so much more.

These kids are not asking for luxury.

They’re not asking for anything excessive. They didn’t even ask me to do this.

They just need:

• A safe place to shower

• A clean place to go to the toilet

• A basic level of privacy

Things many of us don’t even think twice about.

Looking Forward …

This is just the beginning.

My long-term vision is to continue supporting communities like this — not just through short-term aid, but through sustainable, meaningful projects that genuinely improve quality of life.

But right now, this is the priority.

This is urgent.

This is fixable.

And together, we can make it happen.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Thank you for caring.

And thank you, truly, for any support you can give.

Every donation, every share, every bit of awareness… it all contributes to something bigger than any one of us.

Let’s give these children something they should have had all along….

Privacy. Safety. Dignity.