A mother of disabled children

Ms. Vo Thu Van (born in 1958) is currently the Deputy Director of the Center for the Nourishment and Rehabilitation of Agent Orannge/Dioxin victims of Tay Ninh Province (located in Binh Minh Commune, Tay Ninh City).

Since June 2013, the Center has been officially put into operation with the main task of nourishing, educating and rehabilitating the children who are Agent Orange victims in the province, contributing to reducing the burden of unfortunate families with children affected by Agent Orange. The center is nourishing 25 children who are victims of Agent Orange in the form of semi-boarding, including 15 permanent semi-boarding children, from Monday to Friday every week. The children are taken to the Center by their family early in the morning and brought home in the late afternoon. While staying at the Center, they are cared for, fed and free to study and play like their second home.

Ms. Van said, since the Center was established, there have been 7 staff changes. Because of the hard work and low allowance, some have quit their jobs. What makes employees enthusiastic with this job for a long time is the soul of a father and a mother. The center currently has only 5 employees, including a deputy director, a nanny, a cook, a teacher and a guard. Operating fund of the center is limited, depending on the support and mobilization of the Provincial Association.

Facing the situation, Mrs. Van persuaded benefactors to support money to renovate and upgrade its housing and play grounds, thereby the children have enjoyed clean and dry accommodation. Besides difficulties in facility, raising the children is such a great challenge. They have to teach them (Agent Orange victims, mostly underdeveloped in intelligence, autism and physical disabilities, etc.) how to eat, play, read and write, sing, and take care for themselves. Even though, Mrs. Van still persisted in guiding them to take care and overcome difficulties and help the children with all their kindness and generosity. At the Center, Ms. Van is respected by both her staff and the children. Thanks to the help of Ms. Van and the teachers, many children can now read and write simple sentences and can do their personal hygiene. More happily, some children with autism when first came to the center, can now play and help their friends. Now that the number of Agent Orange-affected children is increasing while budget of the center is limited, Ms. Van\'s greatest wish is to get more financial support from the benefactors so that the Center can maintain operations, provide better nourishment for more Agent Orange-affected children who are wishing to join the center.

Ms. Van represents a shining example which is respected by the local authorities and people.