For the Children's Sake

As Librarian John Hickok delivers nearly 200 children’s books in Cambodia and Vietnam for the second consecutive year, two student leaders from Cal State Fullerton’s Vietnamese and Cambodian associations reflect on the successful book drive they helped spearhead. 

Darren Kong of Lake Elsinore, a junior criminal justice student and president of the Cambodian Students Association, and senior business major Vu Nguyen of Fountain Valley, immediate past president of the Vietnamese Students Association, talk about Hickok’s effort and their part in it.

Caption: Vu Nguyen of the Vietnamese Students Association

You’re both pretty lavish in your praise for his efforts. Why?

Nguyen: It’s completely voluntary on his part. He doesn’t have to do this, but he does it from the heart. And he adds something extra — he puts bookplates inside and the donor signs it. The kids can see a name and know that person cares. 

Kong: It’s practical. We know if he delivers them, the books will go directly to the children. Our community sends things to Cambodia frequently, like soap, toothpaste, bags of rice, clothing, sometimes candy and, books. People in the community get together and talk over what to send. 

What was participation in the book drive like for your groups? 

Kong: We had full participation. In fact, we had to stop at 100 books. We would like to donate more books, school supplies, clothing, toothpaste and so forth, but airlines put a limit on how much can be carried in luggage. 

Nguyen: We had almost 100 percent participation from our members. Our parents and community members donated, too.

Caption: Darren Kong of the Cambodian Students Association

What motivates you and your club members to do this? 

Kong: Most of us still have relatives in these countries and we want to do what we can. I had an older brother who didn’t make it out when our family fled the Khmer Rouge. He died of malnutrition because no help could get to him. I plan to go to Cambodia, but it will have to wait until I graduate.

Nguyen: My parents were refugees from the Vietnam War. I was born in a refugee camp in the Philippines. I’ve never been to Vietnam, but my parents have been back. The Vietnamese place great value on education, but school supplies are limited. Books are often a luxury. My family plans to visit relatives in Vietnam in a few months, and I hope to go with them. We’ll take a variety of supplies with us. What we take will depend on what we believe is most needed at the time.

Nov. 18, 2010