VUFO President meets members of an American family with special bond with Vietnam

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President of Chino Cienega Foundation Stephen Nichols and VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga. Photo: P.Y

Stephen and his wife, Sally Benson (who was honored with VUFO’s certification for contribution to the friendship among nations in 2010) first met each other while working with the Volunteer Services Overseas in Vietnam during the war in 1968. They soon fell in love and later tied the knot.

When the peace in Vietnam was restored, the couple continued their efforts to contribute to the normalization of Vietnam-US relations, postwar recovery and sustainable development. They used to be in the Executive Committee of many reputable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) dedicated to supporting Vietnam, including CHEER Foundation for Vietnam, the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FFRD), Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign, My Lai Peace Park.

In 2006, they founded the Chino Cienega Foundation, focusing on helping Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos deal with the aftermath of war (unexploded ordnance (UXO) and Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin), as well as ecological and economic issues in the Mekong region.

Two remarkable contribution of CCF to Vietnam was funding the Mine Action Visitor Center in Quang Tri Province, as part of Project RENEW and the preservation of Nom script.

At the same time, they also play the role of caring host of Vietnamese diplomats and other delegations traveling to the U.S on business trip and exchange programme.

The love for Vietnam was inherited by the next generation of the family, Lauren Nichols, their daughter. Since being a little girl, she had learnt about Vietnam stories told by parents and was present in Vietnam on occasion of the country's 30th Reunification Day in 2005.

Sally and Stephens, two loving friends of Vietnam. (Photo: Stimson Center).

In the meeting, Stephen congratulated VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga on her new position and conveyed the warm regards of his wife, Sally to the host.

Recalling the memories of Vietnam, Stephen said, he was extremely impressed by the appreciation of Vietnamese people for progressive American people who participated in anti-war movement, as well as the reconciliation efforts of Vietnam after the war.

Talking about Vietnam today, Stephen expressed his delight, and appreciation for Vietnam's position in the globe, hailing Vietnam as a brilliant role model in development and nurturing the friendship with other countries.

For her part, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga asked Stephen to convey her greetings and good wishes to his wife, Sally Benson, expressing her pleasure to meet with loving American friends of Vietnam.

"You are our brothers," she said and noted:

“Many Vietnamese people are still struggling with postwar consequences. We therefore we truly appreciate what you have been doing for us.”

US Ambassador Kritenbrink (left) in a visit to the Mine Action Visitor Center (Quang Tri province), a project sponsored by CCF. Photo: Project RENEW

During the talk, the two sides also discussed various issues of common concern such as mobilizing aid for Vietnam in the new situation, the impact of climate change on people’s livelihood, Agent Orange victims in Laos, etc.

In particular, VUFO President and CCF representative also exchange ideas on what and how CCF can do to assist Vietnam in the coming time, such as carbon emission reduction, water resources protection. On February 21, Stephen and Lauren will be present in Vientiane (Laos) and then Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to carry out CCF activities as a survey of the impact of Agent Orange in the Lao PDR borders Vietnam as well as issues related to the Mekong River water.