Nhung recalls the constant struggle of trying to raise a family-of-six on a small farm with an unreliable water source.
“We could grow only one rice crop per year on half of the land while the other half was used to grow soy bean or maize as we did not have any water,” she says. “Everything depends much on the conditions in the area.”
Nhung says it was a constant struggle to provide enough money to send her two oldest children to school.
“I do not remember a time we had any money left over and each time my oldest baby got sick the whole family had to ask for help from friends and relatives,” she says.
Things got better when they participated in farming models supported by ChildFund and the local government.
“Households in the villages now combine all the land we have in one area and by doing that we have more resources,” she says. “ChildFund supported us by building four concrete canals which provide enough water for the whole fields to grow two crops per year. Not only our family but many other families are still benefiting from these canals.”
Over the years, Nhung and her husband have expanded their farm and used savings to invest in a harvesting business that services local farms.
“We make use of the rice and corn powder from our harvesting services to raise chickens and pigs in the backyard,” Nhung says. “They provide not only food for my children but also extra income for the surrounding families. I am so happy that we saw the opportunities and decided to invest in this business.”
A keen learner, Nhung also studied modern farming techniques to improve her land’s productivity.
“We used to use a lot of fertiliser in our farming but now, but we have used more efficient techniques to cut down the amount of fertiliser we use. Also, working with agriculture staff taught us about new seeds which have proved successful.”
The 3.5km canal provides water for 86 hectares of farmland, benefiting more than 500 households.
28-year-old Nhu grew up in a remote village in Hoa Binh, a rural province in northern Vietnam. Her parents were both farmers who worked hard to provide for Nhu and her two siblings.
“I was born into a poor family. Like many other people living in the same village, we relied on agricultural activities for our living. Life was difficult and the local economy was weak,” says Nhu. “I still remember the image of my parents working and sweating in the paddy fields on hot summer days.”
When Nhu was 13 she was sponsored through ChildFund by an Australian sponsor, Brendan, and his family from Victoria, who decided to help a child in need. For Nhu, it made her feel like she had another person watching over her. “I was very motivated by my sponsor through our letter exchange. From my perspective, the most important benefit of being an enrolled child was the huge encouragement I received that encouraged me to strive for my future.”
As a child, Nhu dreamed of treating sick children and people. Today she is turning that dream into a reality. After graduating from medical training college in 2008, she now works as a local health worker specialising in family planning in the community where she grew up.
“I feel proud of what I can do as a health officer. I love to directly give treatment to children and take care of them,” says Nhu. “Children are the most vulnerable and need proper care. This is my passion in my career.”
With more people helping children in need over the last 20 years, Nhu has watched her community in Hoa Binh transform. “Sponsorship has made community development programs possible. There have been big positive changes in our communities. Schools have been rebuilt with sufficient facilities so children have better access to basic education. Today 100% of the children in my commune are able to go to school and receive a good education.
“With ChildFund`s support, many roads were reconstructed using concrete. This has made travelling more convenient. Canal systems have been improved and built to enhance agricultural production. Additionally, clean water supply systems and sanitation facilities have also been constructed, helping to create a new face for our rural areas compared to before.”
As if her job as a health worker didn`t keep her busy enough, Nhu, a former ChildFund Vietnam sponsor child has been sponsor relations volunteer in her village for the past five years. It is her role to deliver letters from sponsors to the children in her area and help them write letters back, as well as encourage all of the children to get involved in activities implemented by ChildFund in their community.
“To me, volunteering for ChildFund is very meaningful since I can make a significant contribution to child development. I see this volunteer job as a way that I can help other children to enjoy the same opportunities I had when I was small,” she says.
While she is no longer sponsored, Nhu continues to feel motivated by her friends in Australia to help children in need. “I want to express my deepest appreciation to my sponsor. Thanks to them, I received a good education and had the will to strive for success in my study and my work. They made me what I am today.”
ChildFund Australia would like to thank all of our supporters for sponsoring a child in Vietnam over the past 20 years! By helping children in need you are having intergenerational life-changing effects on the children and communities we work with in northern Vietnam.
