A COLAC teenager has organised a concert to raise money for Vietnamese orphans.

Trinity College teachers Jon and Alda Hubbard’s upcoming trip to orphanages in Vietnam inspired Year 12 student Meg O’Brien to help the children.

Friday’s fundraiser, Songs for Nam, will feature at least 11 up-and-coming Colac and district musicians including The Attics, Maddy Carmichael, Tyler Lunn and Carolyn Dawes.

“I heard these guys were going to Vietnam and I thought it would be good to help,” Meg said of the Hubbards.

“I’ve been looking since this time last year to get involved in something and then it got specific when I started talking to these guys,” she said.

Meg said organising the event was “easy” because of support for the cause.

“Everyone was really willing to help,” she said.

“All these guys just agreed, really, and the ball just got rolling from there.

“I hope to raise as much money as we can, and raise awareness too.”

Mr Hubbard said the money would help 700 to 1000 children across six Catholic Sisters of the Miraculous Medal orphanages at Kon Tum, central Vietnam.

The group provides education, food, clothes and shelter for children up to the age of 18.

The couple will travel to help at the orphanages a week after the concert.

Mr Hubbard said he learnt about the orphanages from a Vietnamese friend whose family was from the province.

“We have said that next time we go, we will help where we can,” he said.

“We just happened to say that we were going to Vietnam to teach in an orphanage and this beautiful girl said ‘how can I help?’,” he said of Meg.

“We want to find our own area to put this money into, probably education.”

Mrs Hubbard described the conditions at the orphanage as “pretty basic”.

“They sleep in bunk beds and it’s not flash,” she said.

“It costs $12 to feed, educate and shelter one child for a month.”

The concert will be at Cororooke’s Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery, and people who are unable to attend can give donations through Trinity College.

Tags: Charity, Education, Youth