The Purpose Project

 THAO'S LIBRARY

Click on Purpose Project founder Elizabeth Van Meter's "AHA MOMENT" for Mutual of Omaha



http://ahamoment.com/moments/1956

THE PURPOSE PROJECT

Feeling lost and searching for meaning after the sudden death of my younger sister, I looked to the world around me for answers. I was searching for a sense of purpose.  Inspired by my sister’s brave and powerful life, I created The Purpose Project in her honor. The Purpose Project is an organization that seeks effective, dynamic individuals with a driving sense of purpose who, against all odds, are making positive changes in their corner of the world.  Once these individuals have been located, we help them to achieve their goals and share their stories with a wider audience.

THAO

I came upon a photograph of Thao, a 25 year old Vietnamese woman born with severe life-threatening birth defects as a result of the defoliant Agent Orange. The forests have regrown over the three decades since the United States pulled the troops out, but still this toxin continues to produce new generations of victims. Despite her crippling physical deformities, Thao, I was told, created a library for the children of her village from found and donated materials. She dreams of one day expanding this library, allowing the less fortunate of her community to broaden their minds through the secret world of books.  Haunted by the photograph of Thao, I had to meet this incredible person, so The Purpose Project set off to Vietnam with a small film crew to find her.

We discovered a village on the verge of real change where children who are first generation readers rush to explore the written word at Thao’s small library. Her “library” is perched on makeshift shelves in a building where toxic fertilizer and pig feed are stored.  Thao and the children in their quest for knowledge breathe in these toxic fumes everyday. In orphanages, we met children whose bodies are ravaged by Agent Orange. There, too, is Thao’s family whose love outshines the poverty surrounding them, and of course there is Thao, who has a simple dream to expand her library, cultivating literacy in her community, creating a legacy that will live on for the children of her village.

We are seeking funds to transform Thao’s library into a safe and solid structure complete with bookshelves, furniture, art supplies, computers, lots and lots of books and a sign out front that reads:  THAO’S LIBRARY.  A separate shed will also be created to house the toxic fertilizer and pig feed. We are filming the entire process, resulting in a feature length documentary telling Thao’s powerful story of hope and survival, the story of the children and families who still suffer from the effects of Agent Orange and the interconnectedness of us all.

12/15/10 UPDATE:

Exterior of Thao's Library, Before/After

Interior of Thao's Library, Before/After

Trung Lap Thuong Commune, Cu Chi, Vietnam

Photos by Stephen M Katz

10/28/10 UPDATE : The Vietnamese government approved the building of Thao's library as long as the entire existing structure is torn down and a brand new library built in its place.

All paper work and documentation along with the contract has currently been reviewed and approved on the ground in Vietnam.  The Purpose Project Team does not arrive in Vietnam till November 16^th and demo had to begin as soon as possible in order to complete the library by the time we leave Cu Chi, Vietnam on December 12^th. They began demo this week!! We are a GO!

Please check out these links below:

Knocking over part of wall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBMIKtsKpGc

Pig feed and fertilizer being carried out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWgrDo8l-BU

Stone delivery to mix for foundation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_6JSq5aYNM

There is a saying in Vietnamese that is one of Thao's favorites-- the good leaves will cover the torn leaves and the torn leaves will cover the shredded leaves. She explains that if you are lucky enough to be in a better situation than others, when you help them it sends the message that they are equally capable of helping still others less fortunate than they are.

BECOME PART OF THE PROJECT

We are currently raising funds for The Purpose Project. 

All donations are tax deductible.

Your money pays for:

books, drywall, electric work, drop ceiling, paint, lumber, cement, nails, hinges, locks, labor, building equipment, equipment rentals, computers, furniture, art supplies, signage, meals, 3 person camera crew, 1 head of construction from the US, travel, insurance, lodging, translators

All donations will receive credit in the film.

CLICK ON OUR DONATE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Thao with The Purpose Project founder Elizabeth Van Meter

(taken from the feature documentary currently in production)