Mr. Quyen does good deeds.

Mr. Pham Van Quyen presents scholarships to support children of Agent Orange victims facing particularly difficult circumstances. Photo: H.D.

Building bridges

Pham Van Quyen, Chairman of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Nui Thanh District, began his story about his journey as a "bridge" between philanthropists and victims of Agent Orange with a kind, humble, and gentle demeanor in every word.

Having served as Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nui Thanh District, and understanding the many difficulties facing this area, he still wanted to contribute to society after retirement.

“When I retired in January 2015, Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Lam - President of the Association for the Support of People with Disabilities, Children's Rights and Poor Patients in Quang Nam Province - suggested that I join the association, but due to my age, I couldn't arrange it.”

"So when the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Quang Nam province extended an invitation, I joined because it was more convenient. And I had faith that kind-hearted acquaintances and friends from all over would help, so I participated in the association's work," said Mr. Pham Van Quyen.

After taking on his new job, Mr. Quyen traveled alone from North to South Vietnam seeking support. His feet quietly led him to Hanoi , Da Nang, the Central Highlands, Long An, Can Tho… knocking on the doors of close friends and fellow countrymen to ask for their help.

For each fundraising trip, Mr. Quyen meticulously plans a program and sets specific goals to convince benefactors to trust him and provide financial support.

At the same time, he knew that the philanthropists were successful people with busy schedules and little free time, so when he got an appointment, he set off immediately.

Mr. Quyen said: "Because of my age, long journeys make me tired, but the fact that I can provide support for Agent Orange victims in my hometown makes me happy and full of energy."

After each fundraising campaign, Mr. Quyen consistently provided support to the right people and in the right circumstances, as promised to the donors. This credibility and transparency have made Mr. Pham Van Quyen a trusted source for giving and receiving love.

In particular, many philanthropists such as Mr. Le Hoai Nam - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, and Mr. Tran Quoc Hung - Vice Chairman of the Nui Thanh Hometown Association in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces and cities, in addition to their own contributions, have called on more people to support the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Nui Thanh District.

"I'm very happy that many friends, fellow countrymen, and philanthropists have signed up to support me annually and told me to remind them if they forget. In addition, they also help cover the costs of my fundraising trips, which makes things even easier."

The Association of People from Nui Thanh in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces awarded scholarships to children of Agent Orange victims. Photo: H.D.

"Thanks to various sources of support, the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Nui Thanh District receives an annual fund of 600-800 million VND to help Agent Orange victims," ​​Mr. Quyen shared.

Sharing love

Thanks to the connections of Mr. Pham Van Quyen, the Nui Thanh Hometown Association in Ho Chi Minh City annually organizes a charity program in their hometown for victims of Agent Orange and the poor.

This past June, the Hometown Association and several philanthropists provided support for the construction of 5 solidarity houses totaling 260 million VND; donated 50 million VND to the Humanitarian Fund and the Support Fund for Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims; provided 60 million VND to support the children of Agent Orange victims, along with 110 scholarships totaling 201 million VND.

“Not only did we receive scholarships, but we also received financial support for our tuition and living expenses. We promise to study hard so that we can help our mothers in the future and be able to help other disadvantaged people,” shared student Vo Ngoc Lan Anh (from Tam Thanh commune).

Similarly, receiving 40 million VND from the Nui Thanh Hometown Association in Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Bui Thi Tinh (Tam Hoa commune) was deeply moved. This amount is enough to help her family repair their house, which had a leaky roof.

“I am very grateful to the Association of Compatriots in Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern provinces, and the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Nui Thanh district for helping my family repair our house. I hope that many more people will receive the same help as I did,” said Mrs. Tinh.

“Now that I’m 70 years old, my mobility is somewhat limited compared to before, so I often have to mobilize support through phone calls. I thought it would be difficult, but kind hearts always turn towards my homeland, so the resources supporting victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in Nui Thanh are still maintained. That’s the happiness of my old age!” - Mr. Pham Van Quyen confided.

This entry is for the journalism competition "Spreading Positive Energy for the Aspirations of Quang Nam".

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/ong-quyen-lam-viec-thien-3136622.html