Testator stories

FRANCOIS G., TESTATOR

“It is only fair to give back a part of what I have been given.” 

I first discovered sponsorship when I began travelling in Southeast Asia. Travel has always been a passion, and I knew I wanted to devote my retirement to it. Being in these countries, seeing life up close, helped me understand them. It also sparked a deep desire to support the communities I encountered along the way. I first heard about Children of the Mekong while in Asia, through word of mouth. Very soon, I realised it was a charity I could truly trust, one that genuinely makes a difference in people’s lives. 

For the past ten years, I have been visiting Asia every year, especially Cambodia, where I sponsor two young girls. Their village, Prey Chueng, feels a little like home. It has become a second family to me, as I have never had children of my own, and it feels only fair to give back a part of what I have been given. 

I have always believed that education is at the heart of all development. I discovered that Children of the Mekong takes a holistic approach to the students they support. Beyond formal qualifications, the charity also provides all kinds of training to help them grow into kind, generous and responsible adults. Often, when I am with friends, we talk about what will happen after we are gone. Personally, I have decided to leave a legacy to Children of the Mekong so that their work with these children can continue. I am happy to talk about it with those around me. Their solid reputation, the reach of their work and their family values, which mirror my own, give me every reason to trust them. 

RENÉ M., TESTATOR 

“I first discovered Children of the Mekong in Vientiane, Laos, back in 1969.” 

I first came across Children of the Mekong in Vientiane, Laos, in 1969. I was just thirteen when I flew to France on my own. It was rather overwhelming. I had never been on a plane before, and suddenly I was off to a country I did not know. I am French, of Franco-Vietnamese origin. I never knew my father, and it was my Vietnamese mother who decided I should go to France to continue my studies. My two older brothers and my older sister were already at boarding school when I arrived. The moment I joined them in Plumaugat, Brittany, all my worries melted away. My home was my family. Thanks to Children of the Mekong, we were finally together. Even my mother eventually came to join us with my little sister. 

Years later, I joined the Paris City Council as a civil servant, working at the Social Services Centre in the 13th arrondissement. 

At the time, I did not give it much thought. I just listened, offered my help, and cared for those who needed it most, whether because of language barriers or the challenges of old age. 

Now that I am retired and have a little more time, I realise life has come full circle. Perhaps some of the choices I have made stem from my childhood: caring for others, a love of travel that has never left me, and a fierce sense of freedom. 

The values of Children of the Mekong and their commitment to education and young people, have always stayed with me. That is why I sponsor students today, and why I intend to leave, in my will, what little I have to both Children of the Mekong and the charity 30 Millions d’Amis.