“I WANT TO SEND A MESSAGE TO ALL OF MY SIMILARLY SITUATED FRIENDS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OVERCOMING OUR ILL FATE! THE WILL AND THE ENERGY ALWAYS PLAY THE DRIVING FORCE FOR AO VICTIMS TO LEAP BEYOND THE TRANS-CENTURIAL PAIN.”

My name is Pham Thi Nhi, born on March 10.1966, at Tam Ky, Quang Nam. Currently I am residing in Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City. My main job now is deputy chief staff of the office of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin of Ho Chi Minh City chapter.

My mother's first child was born dead. I was born alive but with birth defects.

I have suffered scoliosis, left leg paralysis, loss of hair and pigmented congenital disorder. I don't have much ability to do the manual labor and to enjoy full self-reliance in daily life. Currently, I am regularly troubled with ischemic problem, hepatitis, stomachulcers, hair loss and sinusitis.

Despite disabilities, I have always aspired to stand on my feet. I soon realize that to do so, I had to try to do good learning as a basis for the future. In all three levels of general education schooling, I could achieve the title of the gifted student in writing. The team of which I was a member could get the second prize of Quang Nam's competition. For this reason I was selected as a member of the provincial outstanding student to participate In the national contest for good writer.

When a student I always dreamt of becoming a teacher but due to my appearance and health, I was denied by the school that I wanted to work for. At that time, I was very sad and desperate. Fortunately, the love of my family and society did save me, help me not to give up to ill fate. I tried a lot to have the ability of self-reliance. When I learnt to ride the bicycle. Repeatedly, I fell and broke my limbs, and had my arms in casts, but I could comfort myself and gradually I could get used to it. Through perseverance, hard training and study, I finally was admitted by the head of the police office in my commune. Every day, I rode to work by myself. However, things were not always smooth. Sometimes I fell down and felt a little shy, but I later got used to it.

I did various kind of work in local internal affairs services. In non-office hours, I tried to learn how to do the tailoring or to sell books for earning extra income that serves my necessities. I left the clerical typing work for the police and later was transferred to many services. Wherever I worked for I was trying to work hard and to enjoy the sympathy and love of my community and I have been always recognized as an emulation worker and awarded with several certificates of merit and finally admitted into the CPV.

With a desire to continue learning, I moved on to work for elementary school's library. Herein, I had good conditions for practicing writing. I tried to write short stories, I wrote documents or applications that might help the unhappier people to get aid. I was successful, especially when a board of editors accepted my articles and sent me good feedback. I was very happy then that I could help some victims like Ms Hop's family to get monthly allowances, young Tran Van Anh to have a wheelchair, Ms Tran Thi Ly to get Father Phan Khac Tu as her sponsor, the villagers of Xom xua and Xom cu to build a concrete bridge to cross a stream for better traffic... Despite several existing difficulties, I completely feel by now that I have begun to win my own self. I no longer feel sad or frustrated due to chronic illnesses and lasting state of weakness.

Currently I am working for the Vietnam Association of Ho Chi Minh city chapter. My living and working conditions are quite stable. In 2006, my family even own a decent home with the VAVA's support. I am now paid by the VAVA of HCMC with salary as a permanent staff, and with full social insurance. My wish now is only to have plenty of health so that I may serve the community better. A few months ago, I happened to question myself that what should I do more to serve the society, first of all to serve those are unhappier while I have no valuable property, or nothing for charity donations. The answer suddenly flashed in my mind that I could devote parts of my body after death to those who really need to continue to live ... and I have contacted the Medical University of Ho Chi Minh City with a suggestion that I was ready for students to practice on my body after I die. My offer was accepted.

I want to send a message to all of my similarly situated friends that we need to have confidence in overcoming our ill fate! The will and the energy always play the driving force for AO victims to leap beyond the trans-centurial pain.

Although Vietnam is a very poor country but the 2nd generation victims of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam have received the attention of the Government and civil society. I share the sentiments of love to the victims of the second generation in the United States, because they are not yet recognized by their Government to be entitled to help. What an absurd decision that can't be acceptable.

Pham Thi Nhi, a victim from HCMC