A local priest has opened a center that will provide free accommodation, food and education for local orphans and street children from southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region.

Father Jacob Nguyen Duc Thinh and local government authorities inaugurated the center on August 20.

“We aim to provide free accommodation, food and education for local orphans,” said Father Thinh, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church.

Father Thinh noted that many local children become street children after their parents die or are abandoned by parents who divorce and remarry. They often have no access to education or health care, he added.

The priest, who has served the local Church for 36 years, said that the center, which is located in the parish compound, will begin its first intake of 22 orphans aged 5-6 from Tan Hiep district’s 11 villages in Kien Giang province in early 2011.

Children will study at public schools and the center will support them until they complete their education at high school, university or in vocational center studies, Father Thinh said.

The students will also study music, drawing skills and English at the center, which is the first of its kind in the district.

Father Thinh, 74, expressed his hope that some children may become herbal medicine workers who will work at his clinic which serves local poor patients.

He said the center, which will be served three nuns and four workers, cost four billion dong (US$205,128) has been covered by benefactors.

A principal of a local secondary school also promised that her school will give top priority to accepting students from the center. “We want to work with the local Church to educate poor students,” she added.

Le Van Nghia, president of the district, said his government will work to create favorable conditions for the center to educate students.

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