Our annual charity trip to Vietnam
Gerard visited Vietnam last week (December 8-12) to visit and support our annual charities.
Visit to St. Francis Shelter (Mai Am Phan Sinh)
Our first stop was the St. Francis Shelter, a care center where volunteers look after 350–400 disabled people. Unfortunately, care for people with disabilities in Vietnam is on a completely different level than in the Netherlands. Both young and older patients stay at this shelter, often with multiple and complex disabilities.
In addition to donating food and drinks, we also handed out treats. It is clear that this center could use some structural help. That is why we are going to contribute to the purchase of industrial washing machines, which are essential due to the enormous amount of laundry and to give volunteers more time to focus on and care for the patients. Gerard will also visit several care centers in the Netherlands to investigate which modern, user-friendly aids we can donate. We see great opportunities here to make the care process more bearable and humane. We will, of course, keep you informed of our progress.
Visit to the oncology hospital BỆNH VIỆN UNG BƯỚU
We then revisited the oncology hospital, where we had also been last year. Here, we once again distributed donations to patients for treatments and medicines. In Vietnam, health insurance only covers 80% of the costs; people have to pay the remaining 20% themselves. For many, this is impossible.
People who are unable to pay the personal contribution can apply for support. There are many cases of hardship, which means this remains an important priority for us. We have entered into discussions with the hospital to explore how we can use technology, equipment, or other means to increase the chances of recovery.
Support for our regular orphanages
We also made our annual visits to the orphanages that we have been supporting for some time. These institutions, run entirely by volunteers from the Catholic community, provide shelter to orphans and unwanted children, sometimes even babies left out with the trash. Our financial support is used for food, clothing, and other basic necessities.
Amounts collected
Thanks to your dedication and generosity, the following amounts have been raised:
- Auction pots anniversary event: €8,000
- Cash donations: €420.20
- Tikkies: €2,466
- Transfers: €1,750
- Christmas tree campaign: €1,250
Total raised: €13,886.20
Luca will donate an additional $30,000 on top of this.
You will soon receive a complete overview of all income and expenditure. We are also in the process of officially establishing our ANBI foundation: Luca Lifestyle Cares.
We will, of course, keep you informed. Thank you very much for your support, commitment, and warm contributions.
If you have any questions, tips, or ideas, please feel free to contact us.
We wish everyone happy holidays and a happy and healthy 2026!
