Mama Tina

In 1989, driven by a dream and the memory of her own past, Christina Noble travelled 6,000 miles to Vietnam, a country of great beauty where the terrible legacy of war is still being felt. Against extraordinary odds she opened the Christina Noble Children's Foundation, providing medical aid and schooling. Through this foundation the street children could find safety and new beginnings under the protection of 'Mama Tina'.

In this vivid and moving book Christina's story continues with the amazing tale of what she and her foundation have achieved. She takes us from the streets of Saigon to the children's prisons of Mongolia. Finally she returns to Dublin where she is greeted by the president of Ireland herself.

A staunch campaigner for children's rights, for Christina there are no frontiers, only a world filled with children reaching out.

“Praise for BRIDGE ACROSS MY SORROWS 'An extraordinarily moving story . . . both heart-rending and inspirational' - Cameron Mackintosh 'Christina Noble's story is heartbreaking but finally inspiring because of her indomitable courage in the face of violence, neglect and abuse. Her spirit blazes across the page in this unforgettable book' - Sinead Cusack 'We see a human spirit of shining dignity, courage and resilience - it is not a surprise when she ultimately turns her life into a magnificent act of love and generosity' - Mia Farrow 'This is an amazing story - stiff with horror yet glimmering with humanity' - Claire Rayner 'Christina Noble's account of her childhood is shattering and inspiring, a record of grief and courage that would wring a tear from a stone - the author's integrity burns white-hot on the page. No one could invent these details, few could survive them' - Dervla Murphy 'Most of us feel impotent in the face of Third World poverty, but Christina Noble proves it's possible to help if we choose to' - Woman's Journal 'Mama Tina tells the intensely moving stories of some of the children she has helped, and also reflects, with renewed insight, on her own life' - Harpers & Queen”

Praise for BRIDGE ACROSS MY SORROWS

'An extraordinarily moving story . . . both heart-rending and inspirational' - Cameron Mackintosh

'Christina Noble's story is heartbreaking but finally inspiring because of her indomitable courage in the face of violence, neglect and abuse. Her spirit blazes across the page in this unforgettable book' - Sinead Cusack

'We see a human spirit of shining dignity, courage and resilience - it is not a surprise when she ultimately turns her life into a magnificent act of love and generosity' - Mia Farrow

'This is an amazing story - stiff with horror yet glimmering with humanity' - Claire Rayner

'Christina Noble's account of her childhood is shattering and inspiring, a record of grief and courage that would wring a tear from a stone - the author's integrity burns white-hot on the page. No one could invent these details, few could survive them' - Dervla Murphy

'Most of us feel impotent in the face of Third World poverty, but Christina Noble proves it's possible to help if we choose to' - Woman's Journal

'Mama Tina tells the intensely moving stories of some of the children she has helped, and also reflects, with renewed insight, on her own life' - Harpers & Queen

Christina Noble was born in the slums of Dublin. At the age of ten her mother died and her alcoholic father could no longer care for her or her siblings. In the years that followed she suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse in orphanages and on the streets, and after her marriage she was the victim of domestic violence. One night in 1971 she had a dream about the street children of Vietnam and decided to make it reality. In 1989 she set up the Christina Noble Children's Foundation in Ho Chi Minh city and in 1997 she expanded it to Mongolia. To this day she continues to devote her life to improving the lives of the street children.

In 1989, driven by a dream and the memory of her own past, Christina Noble travelled 6,000 miles to Vietnam, a country of great beauty where the terrible legacy of war is still being felt. Against extraordinary odds she opened the Christina Noble Children's Foundation, providing medical aid and schooling. Through this foundation the street children could find safety and new beginnings under the protection of 'Mama Tina'. In this vivid and moving book Christina's story continues with the amazing tale of what she and her foundation have achieved. She takes us from the streets of Saigon to the children's prisons of Mongolia. Finally she returns to Dublin where she is greeted by the president of Ireland herself. A staunch campaigner for children's rights, for Christina there are no frontiers, only a world filled with children reaching out.

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