Silent Heroes of Vietnam Friendship Village

Vietnam Friendship Village, located in Hanoi, is a sanctuary where unsung heroes work tirelessly every day, turning their quiet acts of love and sacrifice into a beacon of hope for children affected by Agent Orange.

Viet Nam Friendship Village. Source: Newsnest

Turn pain into motivation

At Vietnam Friendship Village, there are many doctors and nurses who are silently trying to treat children wholeheartedly, helping them perform physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises. Today is the shift of Mr. Thai, a nurse at the Village Medical Center. He was one of the children of Friendship Village and is also a shining example of determination to overcome fate. Born in a situation affected by Agent Orange, his body bore severe consequences of the war. However, instead of succumbing to fate, he rose, not only fighting himself but also becoming a great hope for the children here. 

After completing treatment and recovering his health, Mr. Thai decided to return to the Village to work as a nurse and has been here for 10 years. His job is not only to take care of the children's physical health, but also to be a companion, share their difficulties, and give them mental encouragement throughout their growing up process. Mr. Thai confided: “I understand the difficulties that the children face, as well as know their illness because I also went through it. That's why I want to help in some way and contribute my small part to treat these children.”

Mr. Thai takes care of the patient. Source: Newsnest

Mend the broken pieces of life

In addition, the “mothers” in the Village are the ones who directly manage, care for, and educate the children. Raising children who were born normally is difficult, but it is even more difficult for mothers here to take care of children with disabilities left by the war. Each child, each physical condition and illness is different. Managing 20 children in the same house requires “mothers” to be extremely patient, hard-working, and patient, shouldering hundreds of thousands of tasks to raise and nurture the children with the utmost care.

Ms. Bui Thi Thanh, who has had the opportunity to stick with the village for more than a decade, has become a symbol of mothers who are diligent, hard-working, patient, and rich in love for their children. “Even though the work is a bit hard, I feel happy to serve the children”, Ms. Thanh shared. The children here not only need physical care but also need to pay attention to their mental health. Mothers like Ms. Thanh act as a great and steady source of motivation for children to rely on and are a spiritual comfort for them to always have faith and look forward to a brighter future. Comforts, hugs, warm eyes, and loving gestures are small encouragements for children every day to find comfort and rise in life. 

"Mother" Thanh shares her happiness when taking care of children. Source: Newsnest

The living house of the children of the friendship village. Source: Newsnest

The joy of children living in the Vietnam friendship village. Source: Newsnest

The children after a meal in Vietnam Friendship Village. Source: Newsnest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY4_NSGcY40

Classes of love and care

The students in the textile and sewing class under the guidance of teacher Nguyen Thi Hong Hai, bring with them different stories and challenges. Not only is there a difference in age, from children as young as five or six years old to students over 30, but they also face unique difficulties. Some children are intelligent but suffer from motor defects or congenital deafness, while others appear healthy but are mentally retarded. Especially for children with both disabilities and mental retardation, teaching becomes extremely difficult.

Ms.Hai-Teacher of sewing class sharing her story. Source: Newnest

However, Ms. Hai is still devoted to each of her students, she only wants them to be able to learn a profession to support themselves. Ms. Hai said: “I have trained in ten courses already. After graduating from my course, most of them are accepted by garment factories. They integrate into the community and have the ability to support themselves and support their families”.

The result of student after learning time. Source: Newsnest

Watching the children at Friendship Village progress day by day, albeit slowly but with perseverance, is the greatest motivation of the teachers here. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a computer teacher, could not hide her pride and emotion when talking about her students. She shared: “For normal people, learning these things is very easy, but for the children here, it is a process of effort, an arduous but also very meaningful journey. And that is our joy when we can contribute and teach here.” Seeing students who seemed unable to learn anything gradually become proficient with computer operations, or learn vocational skills to support themselves is a testament to the power of love. For Ms. Huyen, going to class every day is an opportunity for her to convey not only knowledge but also hope and belief in the student’s abilities, no matter how harsh the circumstances are.

Computer class in Vietnam friendship Village. Source: Newsnest

The learning activities of children at Vietnam friendship Village. Source: Newnest

Every day that passes at Friendship Village is a story of patience, love, and sacrifice. All the hearts that are silently contributing to this place are the ones who light the fire of hope, helping children regain faith in life and walk more firmly on their journey to adulthood.

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During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used the pesticide and defoliant chemical known as Agent Orange. It included dioxin, a highly toxic chemical that is detrimental to both humans and the environment. Agent Orange was primarily used to deny Vietnamese soldiers of shelter and food by destroying farms, forests, and vegetation. Skin conditions, neurological abnormalities, birth deformities, and cancer are just a few of the serious and enduring effects of Agent Orange. Multiple generations of people exposed have likewise been impacted. It took decades for the regions treated with this chemical to recover from the severe pollution they experienced.

How many children in Vietnam have been affected by the legacy of Agent Orange?

• Less than 50,000
• 50,000 - 100,000
• 150,000 - 200,000
• More than 200,000