Bulgari Celebrities Visit Vietnam’s Most Disadvantaged Children

Monday 9 May 2016

Bulgari celebrities made a trip to a Save the Children’s program in Vietnam earlier this month, visiting some of the most disadvantaged children in the country, in an attempt to raise fund to help the organization’s cause of supporting children. 

Bulgari’s celebrity friends of the brand, Singaporean actress Jeanette Aw, Malaysian actress-producer Debbie Goh, Thai DJ-entrepreneur Hattaya Wongkrachang and Miss Universe Vietnam 2015 Pham Huong met ethnic minority children in Dien Bien province’s hardest-to-reach areas after travelling through mountains and rocky roads. This is the first visit of its kind to be organized between Bulgari and Save the Children in Southeast Asia.

Bulgari celebrities spent a day with the children at kindergarten and primary schools, learning of their living and learning conditions and playing with them. Speaking with children and teachers from the schools they visited, the ambassadors learnt about how Bulgari and Save the Children have helped these children cope with the constraints.

This summer, the Bulgari and Save the Children will launch a bilingual educational program to help ethnic minority children and their teachers communicate better and improve their learning environment. The €200,000 donation from Bulgari will help the children reach their full potential and get the future they deserve.

To date, the successful sales of the custom-designed Bulgari collection has helped to raise €37 million (US$42 million) for Save the Children. These important donations have reached 1 million beneficiaries in 29 countries across five continents, in areas where natural disasters, wars or conflict, marginalisation, disability or poverty can hinder children’s right to education and a better future. 

The celebrities shared their thoughts about the trip: 

Jeanette Aw, Singaporean Award-winning Actress:
“I have always loved to reach out to and help children. This time in Dien Bien, I was able to spend time with the Primary school children and teach them how to fold origami butterflies. The amazing moment for me was when they completed their own butterfly and were thrilled with what they completed. Their smiles were priceless. They have given me much more than what I have given them. Save the Children, with the support of Bulgari, has shown how important it is to reach out to children and give them the love and support that they deserve.”

Debbie Goh, Malaysian Award-winning Actress-Producer:
“I was able to see their faces and their smiles. It was really amazing. It is also really important to continue creating awareness for these children and be able to meet their needs. Their education is very important for their growth. I was very moved to see how Bulgari is supporting Save the Children in addressing a need that is very important but often forgotten for these marginalized children.”

Hattaya Wongkrachang, DJ and Entrepreneur:
“It is important to continue the support for children, especially those who have been forgotten or left behind like the ones that I met. As a mother of twins, it showed me even more how important that these children feel loved. The support that Bulgari and Save the Children provides will help secure a better future for these children as they equip them with the right skills and lessons in schools.”

Huong Pham, Miss Universe Vietnam 2015:
“It is my first time in Dien Bien and the trip certainly opened up my eyes to see the needs of so many children from ethnic minorities in my own country. They deserve equal opportunities like every other child in Vietnam. Thank you Save the Children and Bulgari for such an important difference you are making in the lives of these children and giving them a fighting chance to survive and get equal opportunities in school and the future.

Photo: (From left to right): Thai DJ-entrepreneur Hattaya Wongkrachang, Malaysian actress-producer Debbie Goh, Miss Universe Vietnam 2015 Pham Huong and Singaporean actress Jeanette Aw performing the pole dance with students at Phi Nhu commune primary school in Dien Bien province.