Meet Our Partner
Mr. Bùi Văn Châu
Founder and Director, St. Francis Shelter
St. Francis Shelter is led by Mr. Bùi Văn Châu, who has dedicated his life to caring for those who have no one else to turn to. For more than two decades, he has worked full-time to support and manage the shelter — not as a job, but as a lifelong mission.
Without salary or personal gain, he has committed himself to serving individuals who are abandoned, disabled, or living in extreme hardship. Under his leadership, the shelter has grown into a place of refuge for hundreds of vulnerable people.
This project is not only about supporting a shelter — it is about supporting a mission sustained by long-term dedication and personal sacrifice. His work reflects a deep sense of responsibility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to those often forgotten by society.
St. Francis Shelter Project
Mái Ấm Phan Sinh
Providing Daily Care, Dignity, and Shelter for the Most Vulnerable in Vietnam
Overview
St. Francis Shelter (Mái Ấm Phan Sinh) is a long-standing social assistance home in Đồng Nai, Vietnam, serving people who have been abandoned, displaced, disabled, seriously ill, or left without family support.
For more than two decades, the shelter has cared for children and adults living in extremely vulnerable conditions — including people with physical disabilities, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, mental illness, elderly individuals living alone, and patients abandoned by hospitals or found homeless and without identification.
Who They Serve
- People with physical disabilities
- Children and adults with cerebral palsy
- People with mental illness
- Individuals who are blind, deaf, or developmentally delayed
- Elderly people without family support
- Seriously ill or abandoned patients without resources or a home
Current Needs
1. Food and Daily Living Support
- Rice, noodles, porridge, milk
- Daily food purchases
- Electricity, water, and gas
2. Medical Care
- Medications for chronic and neurological conditions
- Routine medical supplies
- Treatment for infections and ongoing health needs
3. Hygiene and Personal Care
- Diapers
- Soap, shampoo, toothpaste
- Cleaning and sanitation supplies
Estimated Monthly Support
The shelter’s operating costs are approximately $18,000 USD per month, covering food, utilities, medical care, and hygiene supplies for more than 380 residents, approximate monthly cost per resident of about 1,000,000 VND.
Our Approach
VSV supports trusted local partners through transparent, project-based giving. For the St. Francis Shelter Project, support may be directed toward monthly food costs, diapers and hygiene supplies, medicine, utility and household needs, and urgent care for vulnerable residents.
Transparency Commitment
We believe donors should be able to see how their support is used. For this project, VSV aims to provide clear allocation of funds, updates from the shelter, and documentation when available.
Support This Project
From the Shelter
“With our small hands, we cannot ease all the pain of life. But through the generosity of others, we are able to continue this work and bring hope and relief to those who need it most.”
Direct Visibility Into Your Impact
We bridge the distance between your generosity and the communities in Vietnam. Our transparency model ensures you stay connected to the progress of every project you fund.
Reports & Receipts
Every contribution is tracked. Donors receive scanned receipts from local vendors and detailed execution reports, allowing you to trace your funds from donation to the final project expenditure.
Specific financial identifies and banking details are generalized in public reports to maintain institutional security and partner trust.