Mothers in Agent Orange Village
Nursemaid Nguyen Ngoc Ha said, “After entering the village, it is children’s sentiments that is a motive for my love and my attachment with this job. All children at this age are unaffected. on the occasion of November 20, I wrote an article saying that love cannot be faked. Their love helps me so much in my job”.
Among her acquaintances, some appreciated her activities while some advised her to look for a more suitable job. But whenever she saw the children’s naivety, she did not have the heart to leave them, determined to stay and look after them.
Nguyen Ngoc Ha is one of many nursemaids working at Friendship village in Van Canh, Hoai Duc, Ha Tay province. The village is a subsidiary of Vietnam Veterans where absorb Agent Orange victims from the whole country. Most of the children there have to face very difficult circumstances. After entering the village, the children take part in rehabilitation programs that help them identify their abilities.
After being taught to recognize, the children receive educational and vocational training. After being unaware for a long time the children now realize there are many things in life although this is a very long and difficult process. There are many volunteer teachers in the village, such as Mr. Pham Doan Bang who comments, “The children in this village are juniors of veterans and veterans themselves are disadvantaged and affected by Agent Orange that causes bad effects to their children’s health. I just think I should try my best to help my fellow comrades”.
Many products are made by the disabled children and sold to the markets and bought by benefactors. These products are hand-made and give the children strength and encouragement to become useful members of society. Some of them become teachers to train the next generation. From being unable to do anything, Nguyen Thanh Hung (Phu Thuong Ward, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi City) can now teach basic knowledge about computers to other children. He said, “I think this is a good environment. I am apprenticed and now I can use Word and Excel. I feel that I need to learn more”.
Each mother looks after from 20 to 25 children, making sure they have substantial meals and sleep. Their affection helps their mothers forget the daily difficulties. The busiest time is when the children go to class. Mothers are busy with housework such as: cleaning, washing clothes to name a few from morning till night. The amount of 300,000 – 400,000 VND /month is not the reason why mothers stay here, affection and responsibility are strong sentimental threads that keep these mothers with their special children.
These mothers spend 2 hours a day taking care of their family when the children take a nap. At that time, they hurriedly go home to cook a meal for their family and immediately turn back with a mess tin of rice to spoon-feed children who themselves are unable to eat and drink. All children here are in tricky and heart-rending plights. Some of them are seemingly conscious but sometimes they have convulsive fits, cry out and wail. These children realize mothers’ love and affection to them, so whenever they are conscious, they love and help mothers do housework.
Mr. Mai Xuan Thai, the director of Huu Nghi village said, “We should learn from the great soul and good virtue the staff and volunteers have working here. They feel great affection and sympathy for disadvantaged children. Moreover, they sacrifice their family to do charity work. I can see great affection towards these vulnerable children in all of them”./.
