Phan Dinh Hau is only 9 years old, but unlike normal boys at his age, he has been carrying on his shoulders a responsibility that most people would find unimaginable.
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| Hau beside his two bedridden parents. |
With his two parents bedridden and riddled with health issues for over two years, Hau has been the one who takes care of the family and his 5 year old brother Phan Dinh That. It was reported that outside classroom hours, Hau and his brother would wander from place to place, as far as 3 kilometres away from their home to beg for food. It was the only way that the young boys could support their parents and themselves.
Ho Thi Hong, Hau's teacher from Quynh Thach Primary School (Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province) said, "Hau is a very good and hard-working student in class. However, the circumstance Hau is in right now is very difficult. We have been organising a number of donations, books and clothing to encourage Hau to continue going to school. In his family, he has to be the man even though he is only 9. Everything that needs to be done, all work, big and small, weighs on his small shoulders."
According to Nguyen Van Hanh from Hamlet No.12, Quynh Thach Commune, Hau's family has long been listed as the most impoverished household in Quynh Luu District. He also stressed how important it was that the community would continue to support Hau and his family through these hard times.
Dan Tri had made an appeal to the readers about Hau's story at the end of last month. Since then, donations from all over Vietnam and even overseas have been continuously forwarded to Hau's family.
Hau excitedly told us, "Now I have clothes to wear and food to eat. We also have enough money to pay for my parents medicine and hospital treatments. My brother and I won't have to go around begging for food anymore. I am very happy."
Hau's mother, Le Thi Nhi, is seriously ill and spends most of her time in bed. She still tried to sit up and thank Dan Tri and those who donated for helping her family.
According to the latest reports from Ho Trung Loi, Principle of Quynh Thach Primary School, the total sum of money that has been raised for Hau's family is now over VND 100 million (USD 5,000). We were told that a small amount from this sum will be used to renovate Hau's home, pay for Hau's parents hospital and medicinal costs and for Hau to buy daily food for the family. The rest will be put into a savings account for Hau and his brother, as agreed by Hau's relatives, the commune authorities and his school.
