HAMMY FEATURES
PRESENTS
THE PURPOSE PROJECT
Huynh Thanh Thao ("Thao") is a twenty-five year old woman living in a poor village outside of Ho Chi Min City in Vietnam. Born with no legs as a result of Agent Orange, Thao leads a productive life, with daily activities including tutoring local children, helping her mother at a local shop, and most importantly cultivating her library.
Stationed against one wall of the hut she shares with her mother, sister and 100 year old grandfather, sits her library organized on makeshift shelves. It is visited by children from the village on a daily basis, checking out books and longing for the enrichment of literature so often taken for granted. When visiting friend and photojournalist, Stephen Katz, he showed me photographs of Thao and her library. As he shared them, he confessed that he asked her if she "could have anything in the world, what would it be?" Her response had nothing to do with her health or the need for legs, but rather $300 - so she could buy more books.
THE PURPOSE PROJECT
Living and working as an actress in New York City for the past 13 years, my daily life consists of meetings, rehearsals, auditions, event socials, opening nights and a sadness that can't be shaken. A little over a year ago I lost my beautiful twenty-six year old sister to depression, a battle she had been fighting for over a decade. The first half of her life was filled with much victory and success (breaking the record for being the youngest person to pilot a plane across the country and then the Atlantic Ocean at the age of 11 and 12 respectively). During the second half of her life, she graduated the top of her class, served in the Peace Corp with the poor of Moldova, all while fighting a seemingly uphill battle in her head. She was fearless, brilliant, funny, humble and brave, and her choice not only changed my world, but forced me to reevaluate my own life, a life that can no longer be taken for granted. As Stephen told me Thao's story, I felt I had to do something, not just because of her $300 dream that seems so easily attainable, but something else lingered. Something in her eyes that I had lost. A peace, a quiet understanding that radiated from this young woman who was given seemingly so little and gives so much. It's the purpose that we all search for at one point in our lives, that driving force that carries us through life's triumphs and tragedies and makes this life that we're given worth living.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
There are three phases to THE PURPOSE PROJECT. I'm at the final push in the fundraising for Phase I, and am now asking for your help to secure the final funds by November 20th.
PHASE I
My first journey over to Vietnam and the initial phase of the project consists of interviewing and following Thao through out her daily life, meeting with her family, friends and the people of her village to assess the needs of the library before returning to the states to meet with Foundations and individuals that have expressed great interest in taking Thao's dream to a whole new level.
DESCRIPTION
FIXER - a local liason that assures no problems occur with locals, officials, or government personnel; and that all meetings take place in a calm and peaceful manner (know where to go and the safest way to get there)
$100/day for 5 days =$500.00
TRANSLATOR - a bilingual that knows Thao and her environment, will assist in helping Thao feel comfortable during the filming; has already been working with our team on a variety of correspondence with Thao
$40/day for 5 days =$200.00
DRIVER - our transporter who will provide a vehicle and transport our crew and film gear to Cu Chi, which is located near Thao's village; will travel back and forth with us each day
$50/day for 5 days =$250.00
AIRFARE - three coach class round-trip airfare from the US to Vietnam (already purchased on credit cards to secure lowest fare rate)
$850 each =$2,550.00
MEALS - once we are in Vietnam, we become a crew of six. Buy a crew member a meal, the entire crew a meal or food for the team for an entire day, for the seven days in Vietnam, plus the travel day.
$1-$90/day for 8 days =$720.00
LODGING - our crew of three will spend two nights in Ho Chi Min City while the remaining four nights will be spent in Cu Chi near Thao's village; sharing rooms when possible. $50/night, 2 rooms for 2 nights =$200.00
$30/night, 3 rooms for 4 nights =$360.00
TOTAL $4,780.00
BECOME PART OF THE STORY
Even a donation of a $1 helps us get closer to our goal. I am so grateful for any and all contributions. If you are unable to contribute at this time and you know someone who might be able to, feel free to pass blog address along. Your good thoughts and blessings go a long way.
DONATE A BOOK
I have already begun to send Thao books and will continue to do so throughout the entire project. She expressed to me that the young children of the village have begun to read in English and are hungry for English books (12 years and under). Got any children's books hanging around the house or apartment? Book plates with the donor's name will be affixed to all books donated to Thao's library.
We are leaving for Vietnam on Sunday November 29th and will return Sunday December 6th. I will be posting updates as to the film’s progress and its fund raising efforts.
Love and Peace
Elizabeth Van Meter
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