Wedding... "back to the village" - Quang Binh Online Newspaper

(QBĐT) - They weren't born in that special "village," but they grew up, matured, and had their dreams nurtured there thanks to the caring attention and love of the mothers, aunts, and uncles. On their big day, they chose that place to return to celebrate, to have the villagers witness the sacred and happy moments of their lives, and to receive sincere and loving blessings. They are the children who were once cared for and nurtured at the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi.

The joy of a special day

On a September afternoon, golden sunlight gently bathed the courtyard of the SOS Children's Village in Dong Hoi. This place, usually a playground for the children and students of the village, was now a large tent erected to host the wedding of Nguyen Thi Phuong (born in 1998). Today, a member of the village was leaving this large, loving home to go to her husband's house.

Today, the sounds of children reciting lessons, their laughter, and the familiar everyday noises of the village were replaced by the lively atmosphere of a wedding. The village girl happily donned her wedding dress, her face radiant, a smile ever-present on her lips. Looking into Phuong's sparkling eyes, everyone rejoiced for this strong-willed girl who had finally found her life partner.

Nguyen Thi Phuong's wish is for all the members of the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi to share in her wedding joy.

From a young age, lacking a father's love, Phuong and her older sister grew up in their mother's care, surrounded by meager meals, sometimes hungry, sometimes full. Their poor mother single-handedly struggled to make ends meet, taking on any odd jobs she could find. Her frail health and constant illnesses meant hunger and lack of clothing were commonplace for Phuong and her sisters. As her health deteriorated and she could no longer adequately care for her two children, who were at school age, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thao (born in 1959), Phuong's mother, reluctantly sent her youngest daughter to the SOS Children's Village in Dong Hoi. That year, Nguyen Thi Phuong was 9 years old and in the 4th grade.

Seventeen years have passed in the blink of an eye. The shy, timid little girl of yesteryear has now grown into an adult, has a stable job, and has found happiness. “It’s been several years since I left the village, but I’ve never forgotten the days I was cared for, nurtured, and protected by the love that Uncle Ninh (Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Ninh, Director of SOS Children’s Village Dong Hoi), the aunts, and the mothers here have given me. Those acts of kindness are the baggage I will carry with me throughout my life. On my wedding day, I wanted to have the joy of all the villagers present. If I held it in my hometown, I’m sure not everyone could attend, so I decided to hold it here, to once again fully experience every emotion in the loving embrace of people who, though not related by blood or origin, are like family,” Phuong said, her eyes welling up with tears.

Nguyen Ngoc Ninh, director of the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi, said that Phuong's wedding was a big day for the village. A month before the wedding, members of the village were assigned to meticulously prepare everything from contacting and renting sound systems and setting up the stage to ordering the wedding feast. The children practiced their performances for the wedding. Everyone was excited, nervous, and looking forward to sharing in Phuong's happy day.

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On the wedding day, Mr. Ninh, representing the bride's family, personally handed the bride over to the groom, not forgetting to convey heartfelt words of a father bidding farewell to his daughter as she goes to her husband's home. Tears streamed down the bride Nguyen Thi Phuong's cheeks, and everyone understood that these were tears of overflowing happiness.

Sharing in happiness

Nguyen Thi Phuong is not the only child to return to the SOS Children's Village in Dong Hoi to hold her wedding. Before her, Truong Thi Ngoc (born in 1997) also chose this place for the most important event of her life. Nguyen Ngoc Ninh shared that each child who comes to the village has a special circumstance, and each child's life story could be written into a long narrative.

It was the same for Ngoc. Orphaned at a young age, her father was a disabled war veteran who was often ill and unable to do heavy labor. Ngoc and her three sisters grew up in poverty and hardship. In An Ninh commune ( Quang Ninh province), Ngoc's family was considered extremely poor. Knowing he couldn't adequately care for four children, her frail and sickly father sent his youngest daughter to the SOS Children's Village in Dong Hoi when she was just nine years old. From then on, Ngoc learned to integrate into life with other children in difficult circumstances at the village.

Truong Thi Ngoc's happy little family now.

Growing up surrounded by the love and care of her mothers, aunts, and uncles, Ngoc was always a sensible and hardworking girl. The attentive care of the staff at the village and the support of the community and society gave her the motivation to overcome adversity and pursue dreams she never dared to think would come true. After graduating from university and getting a job at the SOS Children's Village Pleiku ( Gia Lai ), fulfilling her wish, happiness smiled upon Truong Thi Ngoc once again when she met her "other half" there.

In June 2022, Ngoc decided to return to the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi to hold her wedding, witnessed by her family, friends, relatives, and all the members of the village. “On my happiest day, I wanted to hold it in the village, where I experienced years of joy and sorrow, happiness and love. Here, I am so happy to have 12 mothers and many brothers and sisters. Especially Uncle Ninh. Although I've never called him 'father,' the kindness he has shown me and the children in the village is no different from the love of a father. I will never forget it for the rest of my life. Now that I have my own small family and am a mother, I cherish and am even more grateful for the years I spent under the warm roof of the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi,” Ngoc confided.

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Established in 2006, the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi has seen countless generations of children grow up and be reunited with their families, many of whom have now settled down and started their own families. Beyond caring for the children from their first day at the village until they find stable employment, the village continues to support them through important life events, perhaps most significantly by organizing weddings when the children so desire.

“To date, three children's weddings have been held at the village. While not extravagant or lavish, the weddings have always been complete, warm, and filled with memorable moments. We always strive to prepare everything meticulously so that the children's big day is truly perfect and meaningful…,” shared Nguyen Ngoc Ninh, Director of SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi.

The SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi currently cares for and nurtures 107 children; of which, 73 are being cared for in 12 family homes, 11 older boys are living in youth hostels, 15 are attending universities, colleges, and vocational schools, 3 are on a 3-month job search program, and 5 are enjoying a semi-independent status. In the first nine months of 2024, the village had 24 children who reached adulthood and 10 children who were reunited with their original families.

Peace of Mind

Source: https://www.baoquangbinh.vn/xa-hoi/202409/dam-cuoi-ve-lang-2221304/