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| A game of marbles brings the children together during their recess after class |
Childhood dreams
On a weekend afternoon, I visited the second facility of Hue City Center for Social Work and Children’s Protection Fund, located on Nguyen Lam Street in Phu Xuan Ward. As I entered the gate, cheerful children's songs rang out from the front yard. The kids were eagerly rehearsing for International Children’s Day. The instructor gently corrected each movement and lyric, filling the practice session with laughter.
Standing out among them was Nguyen Minh Nhat, born in 2018, constantly singing along to the familiar tunes. Nhat was brought to the Center at the age of two, after losing all family members. Once a shy little boy, he has grown into a lively, friendly, and sociable child. Innocently, he shared: “I’m really looking forward to International Children’s Day. On that day, I’ll get presents and play games. It’s so much fun”.
Like Nhat, many other children here are nurturing their own dreams for their bright future. Vo Van Duc, a 10th-grade student at Bui Thi Xuan High School, has been at the Center since infancy. With a bright smile, Duc shared: “I’ve just won a Consolation Prize in my school’s Chemistry contest and I’m currently in training to be a part of the team competing in the district-level competition”. He added, with determination: “I want to get into Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy and study pharmacy so that I can make medicine to help people. It won’t be easy, but I’ll try my best”.
For the children here, dreams extend far beyond toys and holiday gifts. They dream of a different future, one filled with meaning, knowledge, and compassion. And on the journey toward those dreams, they are never alone.
Filled with love
Deputy Director of the Center, Ms. Do Le Phuong Mai, shared: “Currently, the Center is caring for 20 children with difficult circumstances. Two of them are attending Hue University of Tourism, while the rest are enrolled in elementary through high school in the area. Some have special needs or health conditions that require constant attention. We do our best to provide the best possible environment for the children's physical and mental growth. Since 2021, eight children have been reunited with relatives, while others have learned vocational skills and begun living independently”.
However, Ms. Mai also straightforwardly shared: “The children’s living and dietary needs are basically met, but there are still many challenges. The support budget is limited and not enough to provide them as fully as children in regular families. Additionally, some have poor health or intellectual disabilities, which demand a lot of patience and staff capacity”.
Despite difficulties in facilities and staffing, those working at the Center remain dedicated to supporting the children. Each child here deserves a chance to grow up in love.
Not only care, the Center also implements various educational and life skills programs. In addition to attending public schools, the children also participate in experiential activities. Each is assigned suitable tasks to help develop self-discipline, responsibility, and independence. They also engage in enriching extracurricular like visiting historic sites, learning about injury prevention and self-protection... On holidays and festivals, the Center organizes common activities, gives gifts, and holds games to create a warm, family-like atmosphere.
“We always try to make the children feel that there are people who care, love them, and are walking with them on their journey of growth,” Ms. Mai confided.