Ly Thu Hien and Ly Quang Huy, two sisters of the Dao ethnic group, once had a happy family in the remote village of Nam Dich. However, a series of misfortunes struck when their mother went to China to work and never returned. Shortly after, their father passed away, leaving Hien and Huy orphaned and without support.
The two sisters were fortunate to be taken in and cared for by the Duong Hien Social Welfare Center in Phu Linh commune. There, they receive care in every aspect of their lives, from meals and sleep to education, becoming members of a large family. This year, Hien graduated from 9th grade and is applying to a boarding school for ethnic minorities; while Huy has completed 4th grade.
"If it weren't for the aunts and uncles here, I don't know how my sister and I would have survived. I always tell myself that I must try my best to study and train well so as not to let down everyone who has raised me," Hien shared.
The person who built the Duong Hien orphanage is Mr. Nguyen Van Dien, originally from Hung Yen province . After graduating from teacher training college, he went to work in the mountainous region of Bac Me. During his years teaching, witnessing many orphaned students having to drop out of school because their homes were far from school, they lacked care, or they did not have the means to continue their studies, he always wanted to build a place where these children could be both cared for and educated.
In 2016, upon receiving land compensation from a hydroelectric project, Mr. Dien decided to use all the money to build an orphanage in Phu Linh commune. At the time, his decision worried many relatives because his family's economic situation was not very comfortable, while caring for young children required a lot of time and effort.
Despite this, Mr. Dien remained determined to fulfill his wish. In 2019, after completing the initial facilities, he welcomed the first seven orphaned children to his care. The early days were fraught with difficulties, but his charitable act received support and sharing from many individuals and family members.
Many organizations and localities have sought out the care facility to help those in particularly difficult circumstances. To date, Duong Hien Orphanage has become a refuge for 34 orphaned children and 2 elderly people living alone. The youngest child is just over 2 years old, and the oldest is currently a first-year student at a vocational college. Three of the children were abandoned right in front of the facility's gate.
To keep the facility running, Mr. Dien has to carefully save from his pension of about 7 million VND per month and the money he earns from renting his house in the lowlands. All of this money is used to hire caregivers for the children, pay for daily utilities, and purchase supplies for their daily lives and studies.
Mr. Dien said: "All my money goes towards taking care of the children. Despite the difficulties, I always try my best to ensure they have enough to eat, receive a proper education, and live in a loving environment."
Many kind-hearted people from within and outside the province have also joined hands and shared in the care of the orphanage. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tu, from Ha Giang 2 ward, said that after retiring, she regularly comes to the facility to help with cooking and taking care of the children. Seeing that the toilets were in disrepair, she is mobilizing friends to donate about 50 million VND to build new ones, ensuring better living conditions.
Besides taking care of their daily lives, the children's education is also a top priority for the facility. To support them, in addition to transportation and providing all necessary books and supplies, the facility connects with students from the Thai Nguyen University branch in Tuyen Quang who volunteer to provide free tutoring for elementary and middle school students every evening.
Every weekend, whether the children are boarding students or vocational trainees, they return to the shelter for group activities. These conversations and sharing sessions help the children bond with each other and allow caregivers to understand their feelings and address any negative thoughts.
"These children all have special circumstances and need constant attention and encouragement. I have to listen to understand what they need and think in order to support them," Mr. Dien confided.
Currently, many localities continue to contact and send orphaned children and children from disadvantaged backgrounds to foster care facilities. However, due to limited funding and facilities, accepting more children is facing many difficulties...
"As the children grow older, the cost of education and living expenses increases. We sincerely hope for the long-term support of organizations and individuals to help our facility provide the best possible care and education for the children, and to be able to take in more children from disadvantaged backgrounds," Mr. Dien shared.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/mai-am-dong-day-tinh-thuong-post964122.html
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