We had the opportunity to visit the family of Ms. Hanh (45 years old), who lives in Hamlet 1B, Tra Tan Commune, Lam Dong Province. Her family is facing financial hardship and is currently participating in the loan support program of Thien Chi Center.
The household consists of five members: a couple and their three sons. The eldest son, Tin, is a fifth-year medical student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine. The second son, Thanh, is studying at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and is currently undertaking his internship. The youngest son, Nam, is a ninth-grade student.
The family has no farmland and owns only two small plots of acacia trees. Their income depends mainly on the couple’s manual labor. Ms. Hanh works as a home-based garment subcontractor and borrows capital to run a small business selling fishing tools, while also raising chickens and ducks to earn extra income. Her husband works as a construction helper despite suffering from gout and diabetes. In addition to daily labor, he also cuts grass to raise one cow supported by the government.
Although the family’s living conditions are challenging, what impressed us most was how well-behaved and academically outstanding the children are. Ms. Hanh shared that because her children are diligent and obedient, she and her husband are willing to endure any hardship, doing whatever it takes to ensure their children can pursue higher education.
With loans from Thien Chi Center to purchase animal feed for poultry farming and a student loan of VND 15,000,000 to cover tuition fees, the family’s financial burden has been partly eased. The couple hopes that their living conditions will gradually improve and that their children will secure stable jobs after graduation, helping the family escape poverty. Ms. Hanh sincerely expressed her gratitude to Thien Chi Center for providing both motivation and financial support, enabling her family to overcome this difficult period while their children continue their studies.
