The "father" of over 3,000 unfortunate fetuses.

On a late spring day, it was drizzling. Receiving a call from a stranger, Mr. Dung quickly put on his jacket and helmet and immediately set off. His destination was where a tiny life had just been abandoned. He said that regardless of the time of day or weather, as long as he hears about an unfortunate fetus, he always makes time to go and retrieve it for burial, giving the children a proper resting place.

In Kon Tum City, no one is unfamiliar with the image of Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung quietly appearing at the maternity ward of the hospital, or going to cemeteries to find and bring abandoned fetuses back for burial. Therefore, whenever there is information about similar cases, people call his number.

This journey began in 2018, when Dung and a friend visited the Kon Tum City People's Cemetery. “Standing before the small, cold graves of unborn children, the question haunted me: Besides the children resting here, how many other souls remain unburied? If no one takes care of them, where will they go? Therefore, I was determined to do something for them,” Dung recalled.

Without hesitation, upon returning home, Mr. Dung began searching for and bringing unfortunate fetuses from across Kon Tum province to rest at the Kon Tum City People's Cemetery. He recounted: “My first trip was to Sa Thầy district (Kon Tum province) to receive a 5-month-old fetus. When I opened the bag, my hands trembled because the baby had all its body parts, but unfortunately did not have the chance to cry out its first breath. For the first time, I felt like my heart was being squeezed, a feeling that is very difficult to describe.” That moment made Mr. Dung understand that this was not just a charitable act, but a mission he needed to pursue to the end.

In the early days, Mr. Dung had to do everything himself, from searching for, receiving, bringing the babies back, arranging for their funerals, to digging graves and burying them. He covered all the expenses himself, sometimes even having to borrow money to ensure everything was done properly. This was because not everyone understood or supported his work; some were apprehensive, and some even advised him to give up.

“There were times I wondered if I could continue. But then, every time I saw those abandoned little lives, I couldn’t bear it. The children couldn’t choose where they were born, but I can choose how to ensure they rest in peace in loving arms,” Dung shared.

His enthusiasm and perseverance gradually touched people's hearts. From initial skeptical glances, many began to understand the meaning of his work. Some silently supported him, while others directly contributed, helping him with the funeral arrangements for the babies. Thanks to the joint efforts of philanthropists, in 2018, the Hoa Tam Fetal Fund was established with 26 members, with Mr. Dung as the group leader. Besides the days when fetuses are buried, on the 16th day of each lunar month, Mr. Dung and the members take turns visiting the graves, lighting incense and offering flowers for the fetuses.

To date, the Hoa Tam Fetal Foundation has built more than 3,000 fetal graves, divided into 7 sections at the Kon Tum City People's Cemetery, Kon Tum Province. Each small grave is numbered and carefully documented for easy management and to help parents easily identify their unborn child when they wish to visit.

“There were times when I went ahead to bury aborted fetuses, and the relatives of the babies quietly followed behind. For some reason, they couldn't keep their child, but every time I saw a box of milk, a cookie, or a small toy on the grave, I knew they still remembered, still loved, and silently returned to visit their child,” Mr. Dung confided.

The "home" for these little angels is cared for with all the love of the Hoa Tam Fetal Foundation. Photo: Provided by the family.

Behind the thousands of buried fetuses lies the fact that "Father Dung" has thousands more children. Throughout this humanitarian journey, this father has always been deeply concerned about how to bring all the fetuses home and ensure they have peaceful resting places.

The journey of a philanthropic heart.

Not only is he the "father" of countless unborn babies, but Mr. Dung is also a pillar of support for many underprivileged individuals in Kon Tum province. For over 13 years, the journey of this quiet philanthropist has left its mark on the sun-drenched highlands.

“Born and raised in the sunny and windy land of Kon Tum, where many ethnic minorities live, I understood the hardships of the people from a young age. Therefore, since childhood, I have cherished the dream of doing charity work to share the difficulties with those less fortunate,” Dung shared.

Driven by that aspiration, in 2012, he began his journey by distributing noodles and rice to the Ba Na people in Plei Ngol Yố village (Ia Chim commune, Kon Tum city, Kon Tum province). To date, he has participated in more than 15 volunteer teams and groups in the province.

In 2016, he established the "Rice of Love" program, supporting 20 elderly people who were no longer able to work in Nguyen Trai ward, Chu Hreng commune, and Dak Ro Wa commune (Kon Tum city, Kon Tum province). In the same year, he established the "Green Seed" Fund, sponsoring 5 poor but studious students. In 2018, he founded the "Zero-Cost Ambulance" team, assisting people from Kon Tum to major hospitals. Currently, the team has 5 ambulances operating regularly in Kon Tum province and connects with many charitable groups nationwide.

Mr. Dung (top row, second from the left) visits and distributes gifts to elderly people living alone and orphans at the Kon Tum Provincial Center for Social Protection and Work. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Not stopping there, in 2022, he launched the "House of Compassion" project for people in remote areas such as Dak La commune (Dak Ha district), Dak Tang commune (Kon Plong district), Dak Ang commune (Ngoc Hoi district)... In the same year, he continued to build schools in border areas, notably Mo Rai commune (Sa Thay district) and Kon Plong district. Quietly but persistently, Mr. Dung has become a solid support for those facing hardship.

“While you’re young and energetic, give your all, don’t hesitate or calculate. When you do good, society will accept it, and that’s the motivation and pride to keep striving. Many people ask me what I gain from doing this. I just smile and say: I gain so much. I gain the smiles of lonely elderly people, the sparkling eyes of children when they receive a new shirt, and the feeling of peace knowing that a tiny life is no longer cold,” Dũng proudly said.

Dũng said that in the future, he will continue to maintain and expand his charitable activities, targeting different provinces, to spread the spirit of compassion and support more people in need.

Nguyen Duy Thuan (born in 1984 in Kon Tum), a friend of Dung, shared: “Anyone can start doing volunteer work, but to go the distance and persevere like Dung is not easy. He not only helps unfortunate people but also instills in others the belief that sincere giving has the power to change lives – not only of the recipient, but also of the giver. I truly admire Dung's willpower and compassion, and I hope that stories like his will be known to many more people, so that the spirit of kindness can spread throughout society.”

“Don’t ask what the country has done for us, but ask what we have done for the country today” – that’s a line from the song “Aspiration of Youth,” which Dung cherishes and considers a guiding principle for his philanthropic journey. For him, helping others is not only a responsibility but also a joy and a purpose in life. Despite the many difficulties on that journey, he persistently sows seeds of charity along the way. These silent acts not only spread love today but also contribute to building a humane and kind society.

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