Sowing Seeds of Happiness on Vietnamese Soil

On this occasion, Aline Rebeaud (Hoang Nu Ngoc Tim)—Founder and Manager of Maison Chance and Director of the Maison Chance Social Protection Center in Lam Dong—was honored to receive the "For the Cause of Humanity" Medal, acknowledging her nearly 35-year journey of dedication and compassion toward vulnerable lives in Vietnam.

Spreading the Message "For Everyone - Everywhere"

On a sunny day in Duc Lap village, Nam Da commune, the Maison Chance Social Protection Center felt warmer and more vibrant. The Vietnam Red Cross Society Central Committee, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Red Cross Society and the Lam Dong Provincial Red Cross Society, organized a visit to distribute gifts to students, orphans, people with disabilities, and individuals in special circumstances.

The event was attended by Do Thi Thu Thao, President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society Central Committee, along with leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Red Cross Society, the Lam Dong Provincial Red Cross Society, local authorities, and benefactors. Warm handshakes and friendly smiles brought comfort to 206 staff members, students and people with disabilities at the center.

The delegation presented 206 gift sets worth a total value of 124 million VND, alongside numerous essential goods. President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society Central Committee Do Thi Thu Thao emphasized that the gifts not only had material value but also served as a source of spiritual encouragement, empowering vulnerable individuals to overcome adversity and spreading the message "For everyone - everywhere."

The Compassionate Journey of "Mother Tim"

In the Central Highlands, the Maison Chance Social Protection Center serves not only as a shelter but also as a place providing education, physical rehabilitation, vocational training, and life skills instruction for disadvantaged individuals. That journey is deeply tied to Aline Rebeaud (Hoang Nu Ngoc Tim), a Swiss woman who chose Vietnam as her second home and dedicated 33 years to sharing the burdens of people facing hardship.

In the early 1990s, as a young woman in her twenties, Aline Rebeaud arrived in Vietnam and witnessed many hardships. She decided to stay, pursuing a humanitarian approach focused on self-reliance: children receive an education, and people with disabilities undergo vocational training to stand on their own feet. From its initial shelter in Ho Chi Minh City, Maison Chance expanded its operations to Lam Dong. Her contributions were recognized with the Third-Class Labor Medal in 2011 and the Prix Henri Dunant in 2001.

During the ceremony, Aline Rebeaud (Hoang Nu Ngoc Tim) was awarded the "For the Cause of Humanity" Medal by the Vietnam Red Cross Society Central Committee. This served not only as recognition for her dedicated journey, but also as a moment of joy for the Swiss woman who spent decades supporting vulnerable lives in Vietnam. Student Phong Thi Xuan (Grade 4 at Maison Chance) shared: "To me, Mother Tim is not just the founder of Maison Chance, but also a second mother who gave us a home, love, and faith in the future. I will study hard and train well to become a useful person."

Expressing deep appreciation for the dedication of Ms. Aline Rebeaud (Hoang Nu Ngoc Tim), Nguyen Thi Chin, President of the Lam Dong Provincial Red Cross Society, emphasized: "Over nearly 35 years of attachment to Vietnam, including 13 years as a Vietnamese citizen, she has devoted her youth to helping thousands of orphans, people with disabilities, and vulnerable individuals. The image of 'Mother Tim' stands as a symbol of borderless humanitarian spirit, contributing to strengthening friendship between Vietnam and Switzerland."

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This commemorative medal is not for me alone, but serves as a symbol of human connection without distance. It is also an encouragement for me to continue sowing seeds of hope for less fortunate lives.

Aline Rebeaud (Hoang Nu Ngoc Tim)