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Christina Noble was born in the middle of the century in Dublin, Ireland. When she talks about her family situation, she calls her kin "the poorest of the poor". Her father was a severe alcoholic and he left the children after their mother died when Christina was only ten. She was left on the cold streets, looking after her younger brother and sisters. Not long had she been on the street before the children were picked up and all sent to different orphanages.

While the streets of Vietnam may hold colour and interest, there is tremendous poverty and many homeless children. (Photo: Sue Jackson)

She lived in the orphanage for six years. When she was sixteen, they handed her a five-pound note and sent her back to her father in Dublin. She had been told that all of her siblings were dead.

She found her father in the same state she left him in, drunk and destitute, but hoped for change. Not long after they were reunited, he took her money to get change for bus tickets so they could get away from Dublin. Unfortunately for the change, he went into a local pub. That was the last time Christina saw her father; he didn't come back out.

Christina's horrific story went on for many more years until she married out of desperation to rid herself of her terrible situation. The match didn't last very long.

Details about her life in poverty can be found in her book; Bridge Across My Sorrows.

As Christina had suffered, she felt a force beyond herself, telling her to help others who suffer as much as she has suffered. Her dreams about needy children began during the Vietnam War. She recalls them crying and screaming for her help. This is when her plight began.

Christina travelled to Vietnam in 1989 and began working by herself. She began fundraising and soon the organisation grew a strong, dedicated team of workers. The group is still seeking support form the UN and governments around the world. Christina herself works to fundraise $500,000 a year just to keep the foundation afloat. There are fundraising offices in over 14 countries around the world, most of which Christina visits every year.

Her dream of helping the poor, crying children has become a reality. The Foundation has helped over 80,000 children, not counting the numerous family members they have assisted in the meantime. But these people have to choose to be helped. While Christina still ventures out onto the streets of Vietnam on a daily basis, searching for those at the very bottom of the needy-pile, she would never drag someone away from their home or family. She goes to these poor communities and promotes the actions of the Foundation, and informs people of what she can do for them. It's up to them whether they come and visit the clinics or not.

So far, the Christina Noble Foundation has set up emergency health clinics, schools, shelters for homeless boys, childcare centres, soccer teams, a vocational hairdressing school and salon, and are currently introducing music and swimming lessons onto their long list of ways for bettering the lives of young children in Vietnam.

As Christina's health declines, and spending nights on the streets is past her physical capabilities, her daughter is taking up the position. But Christina rarely rests.

The Christina Noble Foundation gives poor, starving children and their families a chance to better their lives. The Foundation assists them in starting businesses, so they are self-sustaining, and also finds them more suitable housing and heath care. All children who go through the Foundation are given the opportunity to attend school, and most do, because going to school and having fun is much better than working in rubbish dumps collecting things to sell.

The Christina Noble Foundation aims to set the children up for life, as Christina believes that childhood is the pathway to your future, it is the foundation of life, and that's why she calls her organisation a Foundation and not a charity. Charity doesn't necessarily help you in the long term.

Should you wish to find out more, or help in any way, contact for the organisation is:
Christina Noble Foundation
P.O. Box 386,
Post Office Center Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
e-mail address: cncfvn@htco.com.vn

This is an amazing example of human courage and heroism. This one woman has achieved so much due to her strong vision and almost violent compassion towards helping the world's children.

Everyone can have this kind of impact. But we all have to take the first steps by ourselves.