OUR CHRUSTCHURCH RELIEF FUND WAS REPORTED IN CHRISTCHURCH PRESS

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/4904034/62-000-from-Vietnamese#comments

April 19, 2011

The Press News Christchurch Earthquake 2011

$62,000 from Vietnamese

A group of Vietnamese who studied in New Zealand over 35 years ago have raised $62,000 for Christchurch's earthquake relief fund.

The group studied in New Zealand between the late 1950s and 1975 as private students or on a scholarship programme known as the Colombo Plan.

In a joint statement the group said they wanted to establish a relief fund for Christchurch after spending their early years in New Zealand.

"We were given not only an education, but also hospitality and love by the people of New Zealand.

"We have been longing to have an opportunity to do something to express our love and gratitude to the New Zealand people who kindly and generously helped us in our education and training and also instilled in us a sense of personal responsibility," the statement said.

They collected over $62,000 within a week from 100 former students and their families living around the world.

The Colombo Plan's purpose was to develop the economies and raise the living standards of countries in South and South-East Asia.

Thousands of students from were educated at international universities, including in New Zealand.

The Press