I volunteered for Aid for Kids H2H Program and really loved this kind of activities, in which we had a chance to hand over our gifts directly to street people. Highly recommend this NGO for your volunteer work!
Here we publish a letter from one of our volunteers, Duy Lyford. The FB account Akira Nguyen mentioned in his letter was later said by Thomas Le Cao Tam that he created it, Joy missed recording the conversation though.
Duy Lyford: duy.lyford@gmail.com
To Whom It May Concern,
My name was used without permission, in stories that are not true, by a person I do not
know, Akira Nguyen. I cannot comment on all her stories I will address those that have
affected my family and the friends I’ve made through Aid for Kids.
I have known the Degenhardts for more than 20years-they were key in my adoption
(from Hanoi) and those of my 5 siblings (from Hue, Ho Chi Minh, and Phnom Penh). It
was Joy Deegenhardt who personally brought me to America at the age of six-my family
are grateful for the work Joy and the Degenhardts have done for us.
My personal relationship to AFK became more professional when I joined AFK as a
volunteer and eventually directing a project of my own design through AFK. As a
volunteer I was involved in a number of foreign aid-projects. Some of these projects
included taking dentists/dental students across Southern Vietnam to provide free dental
care for hundreds of local children. The volunteer students I worked alongside were
amazing-and their contributions to the community were immediate.
I was also involved in projects to reunite families; displaced for myriad reasons,
including adoptions. In fact, my eldest sister was able to reunite with her biological
sister in Hue on a similar project a few years earlier. I had the privilege to join the team
that would find and eventually reunite an adoptee, Rachel Shultz to her biological
Vietnamese family. This adventure will be a memory I’ll cherish forever.
It was a shock to see that Akira would accuse the Shultz family of any wrongdoing—
there are few people I hold in higher regard than the Shultz family. Through their
impressive personal fundraising efforts, a modern bridge was financed and built near
the home of Rachel’s biological family. It was a functional bridge that still stands today
and one that has transformed the lives of the local village.
The donation raised by the Shultz led to a practical solution, which resulted in immediate
and significant impact on a whole community. Rachel’s Bridge was such a thoughtful
idea and should serve as an example to all NGOs on how to use financial donations
effectively. Akira’s accusation of wrongdoing by any member of the Shultz family is
absurd.
My father died in 2010—we asked those affected by his death to withhold flowers and
instead to donate that money to AFK in his memory. I do not know how many people
contributed money in my Dad’s honor. We trusted AFK to put any donated money to
good use—my sister visited Vietnam in 2011 she visited an education center built with
financial aid from AFK. While there my sister saw a plaque with my Father’s name, hung
on the wall in his memory and thanking him for contributions.
Akira has stated that I was disappointed on my visit to Cam Ranh Bay in 2013 while
visiting a library supposedly built in my Dad’s memory—However, I have never been to
Cam Ranh Bay. This story is completely false and one that I will not forgive.
In 2013 I quit my job in the US and moved to Vietnam to lead my own education project
under the banner of AFK. It was a volunteer project in collaboration with a children’s
rehabilitation center in HCMC. The goal of the project was to provide special education
training to teachers and the staff working at the center. It was incredibly fulfilling to
work at the center.
Prior to arriving in Vietnam I had attempted to raise money for the project. Though I fell
well short of our fundraising goal of $25,000 USD—I was too excited about the project
to be disheartened. I was passionate about the good we would accomplish, and
believed once people saw the work we’d garner the financial support to fund the project
long term.
Unfortunately, after 7 months of work the money I had raised for the project was
exhausted and my own personal savings was nearly gone. With no money to continue
the Autism Education Project, and the dwindling of my own personal saving I made the
pragmatic decision to find a paying job. It was a tough choice but driven by my personal
financial well being--nothing else.
Akira has claimed in her investigation that money I had raised was misappropriated and
kept in the pockets of AFK.I did transfer all donated money that I had raised to AFK, but
they in turn transferred this money to the rehab center that provided me access as
needed. I was the only person given access to the project’s funds and can verify that all
the donated money was used as intended.
The allegations against the Degenhardts and AFK are serious and if true would be
personally heartbreaking. However, by my account there are no merits nor truth in the
stories written by this so-called “investigative journalist,” Akira Nguyen. She has not
demonstrated professional integrity nor an ability to sound out facts from fiction. Her
reporting has been ill-researched and can be easily proven as false. I question the true
nature behind her agenda as the search for truth is clearly not her priority.
Sincerely,
Duy Lyford
Date: February 19, 2016
47 Xian Yang Bei Lu Shanghai, China, 200040
Contact #: +86 136 6152 3364
Yes. You are right, Adam. His full name is Le Cao Tam, English name is Thomas, who used to work for Joy, then hacked her laptop to steal money from her bank account and keep harassing her and Aid for Kids until Joy decided not to keep sueing him. She doesn't have enough evidences though, but we staff all know this guys and his evil schemes.
Are you talking about Thomas Le Cao Tam? I know him. He is also a member of Adopted Vietnamese International FB group. His business is a scam, many members have made posts warning about this guy. Feeling so sorry for Joy...
I vote 5 star for Aid for Kids. I love this NGO and have volunteered in several projects since 2014 teaching English and distributing gifts to orphans around Saigon. The staff have been so helpful during my stay in Vietnam.
In request of AFK to help review their page, I vote it 5 star, also show that I disgust what Tam has done to AFK and Joy. I live near Joy's apartment and has witnessed all Tam's schemes to kick her out of her own house and even Vietnam!! He was able to sell Joy's apartment and get all the money because Joy used to trust him and have him help her with legal procedures of buying house. Joy has worked for a overseas study company and he has harassed her by sending mails with his made-up stories to that company too.
Tam, you have continued your allegations against Aid for Kids on here and your fake Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/akira.nguyen.123276 ) and have continued to email me those allegations. May I suggest that you personally contact Duy Lyford? If you do, you will learn that Duy has only complimentary positive opinions about Aid for Kids and Joy My Lien Degenhardt.
How does Aid For Kids, USA charity organization stole money of Vietnamese poor children?
1- First Story: Mr Duy Lyford who is a Vietnamese Adoptee come from Bac Ninh Province, a local in the North of Viet Nam is living in the United States. When his adoptive father was died in United States, his family had fundraised amount 2500 USD in his Dad's funeral. After then, his famly donated all that money for Aid For Kids to buid a library for poor kids in Cam Ranh Bay Area (It is located at Khanh Hoa Province). Joy My Lien Degenhardt gave his family a report that Aid For Kids had already used that money to set up a Library in Cam Ranh Bay. But when he come back Viet Nam in 2013 to visit this place, he did not see any library in there. Mr Duy Lyford was disappointed very much. Because His dad's wishing for Vietnamese Poor Kids did not come the true.
Before the day, Mr Duy Lyford come back Viet Nam to help Kids who were autism as volunteer in Aid For Kids.(Duy Lyford also a specialist autism). He had also fundraised from his friends in United States amount 10,000 USD for autism project and He wired all of that money for Aid For Kids. But when he was Ho Chi Minh City where this project was action (the Orphanage at 38 Tu Xuong Streets, HCMC). The Director of this orphanage told to Mr Duy Lyford that Joy My Lien Degenhardt/Aid For kids only transfered for this project, grand total about 2,500 USD. First at all, Mr Duy Lyford thought that he would stay in VIet Nam for helping autism kids about one year, but after 3 months working He knew Joy My Lien Degenhardt/Aid For Kids used him and all Donator to get money for her private life, so he decided moving to China for helping autism kids in there.
Our class participated in a trip held by AFK to offer gifts to orphanages the last Christmas. It was a great experience for all of us. We learnt a lot through knowing the kids. Thank you for having given us an opportunity to experience and learn.
Kindly,
Andy T
Practice English with foreigners is big oppotunity for students , especially students in countryside. I thank you for the oppotunity you give us this summer. I promise to study harder this year to earn a scholarship.
Thank you.
I and my classmate are here to rate for Aid for Kids. I wish the organization develop good and will have more class and program for children in difficutl rural like us.
Thank you, Mr Tim. You may not remember me because I was timid and silent in your class, but I love your summer class very much. I hope to see you again soon. I wish you the best and return to us.
Binh
I am a student of an English class that is sponsored by Aid For Kids . I am happy to study here with kind teachers in the 3 years . Now I end my studying here because I and my classmates have to graduate to give place for new students to study . I wish there is more classes for all of us. Thank you for teaching us !
They do excellent job to Vietnam!
I was a volunteer in Summer Camp a year ago. It's my honor to know Aid for Kids and their contributions, which have brought the better life for Vietnamese children and people so far. Each member or volunteer there has wonderful stories to tell the world. They all are admired people who dedicate and commit to their work and mission. Perfect!
I have personally known the leaders of this NGO for many years. They are super people. They do awesome work, without much fanfare, and they spent only a meager amount on administration. You can be assured that your donation will be put to great work. I am
It has been a year since I volunteered for 2 programs held by AFK in summer 2014. I have gained invaluable experience working with the kids in localities and got to know more about the good causes AFK have been doing as well as their difficulties shared by their staff.
One of the stories that caught my attention is a private one: There's a guy wanted to disturb AFK director in VN because of personal dispute over property owner right, so that he hacked her mail, created fake accounts and sent mail talking false stories about AFK to many contacts in the hacked mail account.
I kept that story in mind until today a student that I know infomed me AFK was disturbed here last year by suspiciously fake accounts. So that I decide to share my story here and would like to ask you students to share your rating here.
To Mr. Tim: In the Summer Camp, you teach me how to pronounce English correctly, you help me be confident, you help me feel people's care and solidarity when taking part in group games and activities. It is you who change me from a shy girl to a girl who care more about other people and who is brave and confident in whatever she does. Thank you for visiting Aids for kids. Thank you for coming to Cam Ranh. Thank you for giving us many entertaining experience. Thank you, thank you very much...
I love the gift trip to schools for disdvantaged children early this years. Their happy smiles made my heart melt... I would be happy to join such trip again :) Keep up the good work!
I volunteered for this NGO for two months in Vietnam in the summer of 2014. It is remarkable what a positive impact this group makes with the very limited resources they have. The leaders of this group have provided much needed humanitarian services to thousands of children and families in Vietnam since 1993.
This group often works in remote villages which sometimes offer limited communication services and other infrastructure which can make the process of organizing these dental missions a challenge. It is difficult work and sometimes requires the ability to adapt to last minute changes that occur when working in a foreign country. The agency staff goes to great lengths to meet or exceed the expectations of the many skilled and professional dental volunteers.
I have just received a mail from a stranger asking me to tell about DF. I was surprised reading previous comments here. I also joined a dental trip held by DF in 2014 and it's not that bad, I didn't feel like I was overcharged at all.
My friend also donated $750 for Hoian Library Project which was built by Degenhardt Foundation/Aid For Kids, it was used for street children but after checking we knew clearly the library never exist.
We were brought to Vietnam to perform dental needs on children. Included with the volunteers were a dentist, 2 volunteers, a Dental Hygiene Instructor and 3 students. From the beginning there were inconsistencies in what was told about the trip from the location of hotel and the children that were to be treated. None the less we were there to treat kids and loved to do so. The volunteer staff that was there to help was amazing and guided us the whole way. But the main organizer was not there for over half the trip. Besides feeling taken advantage of and not welcomed we were informed that we over paid for the trip. We were informed that the trip cost a total of $800 for us all when we all paid $1,500 each. The organizer would not give and itemized receipt and to add insult to injury gave thank yous to us on the last day with misspelled names and half of us had empty gift boxes. This should be robbery to take this kind of money from people who what to do good in the world.