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With outpouring support from the Vietnamese American communities and organizations, ICAN successfully raised close to $100,000 to support tsunami victims in India , Thailand and Sri Lanka .
- ICAN and other Vietnamese American non-profit organizations (VA NGOs) worked together to support Dr. Jean Lieu's timely trip to India . She departed 1/1/05). With only 12 days in India , Dr. Jean Lieu brought back unforgettable memories of morbid scenes of death mixed with hope for life and determination to survive. (http://www.va-ngo.org/2005/tsunami.html)
 Rev. Thich Phap Chon, ICAN's Chairman, left for Sri Lanka in mid January, bringing with him medicines, first aid and other supplies. During his 6-week trip, Rev. Phap Chon traveled to many areas along the coast to help provide medicine, build temporary shelters for tsunami victims. He also organized fun activities for the children to help them forget the trauma, overcome their fear and readjust to life. Rev. Phap Chon provided children with school supplies, and helped them paint tables and chairs to get ready for Back to School Day. He also visited tsunami stricken areas in Thailand before returning to the US .
- In mid March 2005, Rev. Phap Chon went back to Sri Lanka to continue helping tsunami victims, especially the children, to rebuild their lives. This time he was accompanied by Jennifer Tran, one of ICAN core members.
 They organized parents and local volunteers into groups to help provide fun activities for the children. They built more temporary shelters and provided fresh food and relief packages to children and families. Several school/temple construction projects were undertaken with funding from ICAN and numerous Vietnamese American agencies and donors in Galle and Ambalangoda. These school/temple sites are much needed as they help strengthen the faith, soothe the sufferings and nurture optimism. Sri Lankan villagers were very grateful for the support from the Vietnamese American community in helping them get back on their feet.
View pictures: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 . Read more on our newsletter.
Read: In The Face of Adversity by Jennifer Tran |
