Nguyen Ai, Head of Ha Thanh Hamlet, Khanh Hoa Province for 18 years, and his wife have adopted 17 disadvantaged children in their life.
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| Nguyen Ai, his wife and their first adopted children |
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| Do Thi Lien is his oldest adopted daughter and Pham Thi Nhat Uyen his youngest |
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Nguyen Ai has been head of the hamlet for 18 years and helped many needy students |
DTiNews reporters visited Nguyen Ai’s family in Ha Thanh Hamlet, Ninh Da Commune, Ninh Hoa District, Khanh Hoa Province.
Ai shared, “My family is not rich at all but I want to contribute to society so that my life will be more meaningful.”
Nguyen Ai has 4 biological children who all are working far away from his house. However, his adopted children often visit him and his wife.
We met 2 of his 17 adopted children, Do Thi Lien teaching at Chu Van An Secondary School, Ninh Da Commune and Pham Thi Nhat Uyen studying at Thai Binh Duong University, Nha Trang.
When Ai was Head of the Parents Association of his son’s class in 1992, he adopted Chien, Phu, Vu and Lien who all were classmate of his son.
Although his family life is difficult, he often asked disadvantaged friends of his children to stay with his family. He told them, “You all just concentrate on studying, I will take care of your food.”
Nguu, Ai’s wife said, “Chien, Phu, Vu and Lien are our first adopted children. We have 10 family members in total. We are farmers so we have enough rice for all. We are not rich but we live very happily.”
Lien recalled, “In 1996, when we were going to Ho Chi Minh City to attend university entrance exams, our mother Nguu suddenly got sick and had to be admitted in the hospital. Then, although her health was not fully recovered, she tried to go home and prepare a meal for us before we left. We felt so touched.”
Thanking the expectation and care from their parents, they all passed the exams. Lien and Tuyen had enrolled successfully into 3 universities. Vu enrolled into one university.
After adopting Chien, Vu, Phu and Lien; Ai continued adopting other needy children.
For over 15 years, Ai has adopted a total of 17 children. Some lived with his family for 1 or 2 years. Some stayed for 5 years.
Uyen, who stayed with Ai’s family for 5 years shared, “I cannot forget the time when my father Ai had to ride the boat to take me to school because of heavy floods. He always took care of me. Now, whenever I come back home, he gives me some money because he’s worried that I don’t have enough.”
Teacher Ngo Dung, former Principal of Nguyen Trai High School, Ninh Hoa District said, “Ai always cares for pupils, especially those who are needy. He helped us to build school and adopted disadvantaged pupils. His deeds have made many people admire him. He was also given the insignia ‘For the Cause of Education’ in 2002 by the Ministry of Education & Training.”
