In the fall of 1998 the Madison Quakers funded the construction of a three room primary school for My Lai. This was the first in a series of primary school buildings constructed by funds provided by the Madison Quakers.

The former ‘school house’. Note the dirt floor and crude benches.

The population of Vietnam has more than doubled since the end of the American war in Vietnam but the (re)building of the infrastructure has not kept up with this population explosion. Because of this lack of classroom space Vietnamese children in My Lai were taken to private homes or old rice storage warehouses to be taught.

As a simple ceremony celebrating the construction of this first school building Vietnamese and American adults tied ‘Friendship’ bracelets around the wrists of the school children of My Lai. These bracelets were made by school children from Madison, Wisconsin who asked that they be given to the children of Vietnam.

Since the construction of that first small three room primary school building in My Lai we have had constructed two eight room primary school buildings. We are currently raising funds for the construction of the third and final eight room school building which will meet the needs for classroom space in My Lai for years to come.