Casper Soroptomists Host International Philanthropist

The Soroptimists of Central Wyoming  will host a presentation by Children of Peace International founder Binh Rybacki at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Road.  Children of Peace International is a non-profit organization that provides support to orphanages in Vietnam.  Founder Binh Rybacki has been recognized internationally for her humanitarian work in Vietnam.

The Natrona County Library will also present “A Necessary Journey,” a 90-minute video of a COPI 2009 medical mission trip at 6 p.m. on April 29th. The documentary, by Jake Ladder Productions, follows the medical team on a 17 day road trip through Vietnam, treating the children, orphans, families, and survivors of the Vietnam War.

Binh Rybacki left Vietnam with her family at the age of eighteen. The American government evacuated her family in the last days before the fall of Saigon to the Communist troops. Binh continued her education at Colorado State University and worked for Hewlett-Packard for 25 years as an integrated circuit designer and information technology specialist.

In 1993, Binh returned to Vietnam to locate the rest of her family and to make peace with her home country. She found children working as street peddlers, beggars, and prostitutes.  Unable to leave things as she found them, Binh and her husband, Jack, began Children of Peace International in 1993 to help improve the lives of these kids.  Children of Peace International was incorporated in January 1996 with a board of ten members and gained non-profit status in June of 1996.

The organization is supported by donations and volunteers.  For more information about COPI, please visit childrenofpeace.org. For questions about Binh’s presentation on May 1, please call Donna Cuin at 262-2253 or email Debbie Ehlers at debbieehlers@yahoo.com.