Projects-Vietnam

Children of Peace International

On April 30,1975 Binh Rybacki fled Vietnam as communist troops
took over Saigon. She and her family settled in the United States
and started new lives. Binh did not return to Vietnam until 1993
when she accompanied a group of doctors as a translator. She
was distraught to find most of the country living in poverty and
children working as street peddlers and prostitutes, but
determined to do something about it.

Binh founded Children of Peace International (COPI) in 1996 and
has since dedicated her life to giving hope and opportunities to the
children of Vietnam. COPI supports eleven schools and orphanage
serving over 4500 children throughout Vietnam. They also worked
with the Vietnamese government to establish the first HIV center
and home for children and facilitate community-based programs
like micro-loans and medical missions.

Binh has been so instrumental in changing the lives of
Vietnamese children that Kiwanis International has awarded its
2002 World Service Medal to Binh Rybacki and Children of Peace,
International. The medal is presented annually to individuals or
organizations that provide extraordinary service and compassion
to the world's children. Past World Service Medal winners include
Rosalynn Carter (1995), Mother Teresa (1996) and Audrey
Hepburn (1993).