Tuyen Quang renews the care for Agent Orange victims (II): Rising up with the spirit of a soldier

The heart of a volunteer social activist

Like in some provinces such as Dien Bien, Son La... Tuyen Quang Provincial Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxins has yet to be recognized as a special association. Therefore, nearly 200 commune-level grassroots officials in the area are not entitled to salaries or allowances. But that does not discourage their kindness and tolerance towards the life of the AO victims. Those cadres have volunteered to go from house to house, and knock from door to door to encourage and take care of the spiritual and material lives of the victims. They work wholeheartedly in a totally voluntary manner for their teammates and people with miserable situation.

Most of the staffs of the association and its affiliates at the grassroots level are old, carrying many diseases due to the influence of toxic chemicals. Mr. Hoang Minh Phuc, President of the Dinh Long Association for Victims of Agent Orange/ dioxin, Hong Lac commune (Son Duong) confided that: “Currently, the my association has 25 members. To do the work of the association, the staff must take the joy of sharing and helping teammates as motivation. Every time we meet, we tell stories of our soldiers\' lives in the past, then our joy spreads, AO pain seems to be somewhat lessened.\"

This year Mr. La Duc Cam, President of the Xuan Quang Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin Chiem Hoa) is almost 72 years old, he is still diligently at his bicycle repair shop. For him, it is a source of fund for fuel and transportation expenses to do the association\'s activities. For 7 years working with the association, he has devoted himself to building the organization together with the executive committee. He said: “Despite many difficulties such as no operating fund, staff working without allowances, but I myself do not expect support but create my own source of income, and spend a small part to participate in the association’s activities\". Xuan Quang people have long been familiar with the image of Can diligently going to each member\'s house to visit and encourage timely when they are sick. Many times his wife and children dissuaded him, advising him to quit the job because of his oldage and declined health. He smiled kindly and said that meeting his old soldiers\' friends is the motivation to live a happy and healthy life every day. So, even though he is getting weaker and weaker, he still goes to each village to visit his comrades who are infected with chemical poisons, and considers it his duty to his teammates.

Mr. Ha Huu Do, Lang Lac village, Xuan Quang commune said: “Because of Agent Orange infection, my health is weak, and I can hardly walk. Mr. Can often comes to my house, or makes phone calls to check my health. Recently, my family was also lent capital to by seedlings for afforestation by the Commune Association for Victims of Agent/dioxin”.

Thanks to these silent contributions, 198 members of the associations in communes, wards and townships have become \"helpful hands\" to connect and build the association movements at the grassroots level, thereby creating a solid fulcrum for more than 3,000 members to rise up in life. In the past 5 years, 1,490 members were guided to carry out the medical examination procedures to receive social benefits according to the State\'s regulations. In particular, 1,132 people have been recognized and enjoyed benefits for AO victims, such as: health care, visitation, gift giving, housing, economic development....

Creation of self-established funds

In the movement to help AO victims rise up in Tuyen Quang province, the self-established fund of the associations in communes, wards and townships act as a \"midwife\". This is a creative way to promote the internal strength of the members themselves. Mr. Nguyen Manh Sam, President of the Provincial Association expressed that from the fact that many members have the desire to develop their household economy but lack capital, the Association has advocated the formation of self-established funds to help its members.

In 2013, self-established funds were simultaneously founded in many associations in Yen Son district with different names. Initial contribution amount was only from 100 to 200,000 VND/member. Although not much, the funds have partly encouraged its members in sickness or in difficult times. In 2017, the Executive Board of the Provincial Association decided to set up a series of funds at the grassroots level and unanimously chose the common name of Self-established Fund. The money raised will be used for lending its members in need for economic development and house repair for a period of 3-5 years. Up to now, 100% of associations in the province have established such fund with a total amount of over VND 1.2 billion, and provided loans to over 250 members.

The associations of Chiem Hoa district have effectively implemented the fund, typically Yen Nguyen and Xuan Quang communes... From the money borrowed, many victims have escaped from poverty sustainably. Mr. Hoang Tien Vuong, President of Yen Nguyen Commune Association shared: the association\'s self-established fund was founded in 2014. At first, each member contributed 200,000 VND/year. Up to now, the association has 54 members with a total fund of 74 million dong, providing loans to 15 members for economic development and house repair.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tinh, Khuon Tru village, Yen Nguyen commune (Chiem Hoa) shared that, recently, he received a loan of 28 million VND from the fund to repair houses. Now he can live in a more spacious house to take care of his illness and take care of his production development with his children.

From the self-established funds, many members have been facilitated and motivated to escape poverty and become well-off households. Take the case of Mr. Tran Xuan Truong, a member of Tu Quan Association (Yen Son) for example. In 2016, he was lent 10 million dong from the association\'s \"self-established fund\" for economic development. Currently, he has planted 150 green-skinned pomelo trees that have produced fruits. With an income of 120-150 million/year, his family has overcome difficulties and stabilized their life.

Members of Nong Tien Association (Tuyen Quang City) are entitled to loans for growing ornamental plants for economic development from the self-established fund.

Members who get loans only have to pay very low interest rates so that the associations have more money to visit their members when they are sick, receive long-term treatment at the hospital, and give gifts to members on the occasion of Vietnam Agent Orange Victims Day on August 10, holidays and Tet, contributing to the emotional bond among members in each association. Mr. Nguyen Tien Bao, Tan Thanh commune (Ham Yen) said that every time he was hospitalized for treatment of illness due to the sequelae of Agent Orange/dioxin contamination, the association’s representatives directly went to visit him in the hospital and encouraged him. This is a great source of encouragement for him to overcome the pain of Agent Orange.

With a profound humanistic meaning, the Self-established funds have become a reliable address to help AO victims in difficult circumstances, contributing to the effective maintenance of the Association\'s movements and activities. Only when the Association\'s activities are strong, can they help its members more. This is the goal that the Uncle Ho\'s soldiers always bear in mind, and hope that the lives of their comrades will be increasingly improved.

No word can tell the pain and sequelae of Agent Orange present on the body and spirit of the victims. Instead of accepting their destiny, many victims have tried to rise up with the desire to live. They always think that \"to live in the world is a gift and we should cherish that gift\".