In order to raise funds for poor children in Vietnam, two philanthropists have walked for over a year from their continent in Europe to Asia. Swiss Simon Niggli and Austrian Christoph Obmascher started their incredible journey on January 18, 2015 and have since travelled 7,000 kilometres across 19 countries.

 

They travelled on foot to many European countries to China, from which they took buses and trains to reach Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Vietnam. In late February, they arrived in Yen Bai Province and Lang Chanh District in Thanh Hoa Province to meet the children they sponsored.

 

Niggli felt compelled to help needy children in Vietnam when he first came to the country in 1999 and saw their difficult situation. He sponsored a child in Lang Chanh District until he became big enough in 2012 and no longer eligible for the program. The Swiss philanthropist then sponsored another child, Le Xuan Khang, who he met recently upon arriving in the country. Obmascher on the other hand, sponsored a child named Phang A Tua who lives in Tram Tau since 2014.

 

The philanthropists made meticulous preparations in order to get ready for the epic trip. They both quit their jobs and spent two long years preparing for their amazing journey. They researched on the walkable roads, weather conditions and potential sponsors from their respective countries.

 

Donations raised during their trip are directed to World Vision International, a relief and developmental organization which aims to better the lives of people, especially children, living in property. It began operating in Vietnam in 1988 before opening an office in 1990. Since then, it has provided quite a number of relief and development programs with partnership to the Vietnamese government and other non-government sectors. The sponsorship is part of the organization’s Area Development Program which has been established in Vietnam for the last 15 years. To date, there are 40 of the specific program and 16 special projects in 15 provinces all over the country.

 

In 2015, World Vision International spent US$26 million for its programs and projects helping a total of three million Vietnamese children. Niggli and Obmascher hope that their personal mission will touch the hearts of other people all over the world to do the same.