Two brothers from a poor family in Ha Tinh Province may have to cease their education because their father suffers from cerebral atrophy.
Two boys show many Certificates of Merit which they got from school
Ho Sy Linh, an 11th-grade student, and Ho Sy Son, a seventh-grade student, are both sons of a poor family in Yen Giang Hamlet, Hong Loc Commune.
They have shown themselves to be good students and had high hopes of getting good jobs in the future to support their family. But when their 55-year old father was stricken with his illness, the children may have to find short-term ways to help their family, which could spell the end of their studies.
Their mother is trying everything she can do to support her family, even having been reduced to begging to pay for her husband's medical treatment.
The father, Ho Sy Giap, is still receiving treatment at Loc Ha District Hospital, which costs around VND240,000 (USD11.32) per day, and there is no release date in sight.
Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Trai, who treats Giap, said, “If he would have been sent to a provincial or central-level hospital, he would be getting standard treatment. Here, however, we are trying our best just to provide him with the most immediate treatments to help him survive. We can only give him some meals."
The bed-ridden father
The family's income comes largely from farming and the costs of Giap's treatment are far past their means. They do not even own a bicycle, meaning that the wife, Dan, must walk seven kilometres in order to visit him before she starts her day.
They have had help from neighbours and friends, but it has been sporadic, as they are all in similar financial situations and busy with farm work.
The feeling of helplessness has led the two children, Son and Linh, to consider dropping out of school in order to help in some way. "Yeah, we really would like to continue our studies and reach our goals; to change our lives. But it's a really difficult time right now. It's really hard to see our father bed-ridden and our mother struggling to support treatment, daily life and pay for our studies," said Son.
“We’ve already sold everything we have, and it's still hard to get by from day to day. Of course I don't want my children to drop out of school! But I feel like my back is up against a wall here," the mother said.
Sharing a pack of instant noodle
The head of Yen Giang Hamlet said, “We’re all aware of the hardships faced by Giang’s family and are trying to provide them with any support we can. However all we can really do is give agricultural tax extensions and maybe some extra fertiliser for their fields."
Local residents have gathered together to raise money for them. So far they have collected a grand total of VND700,000 (USD33). While much appreciated by the family, the sum pales in comparison to what they actually need.
To help the family, please make donations through:
1. Code 1128: Tran Thi Dan, Yen Giang Hamlet, Hong Loc Commune, Loc Ha District, Ha Tinh Province.
Mobile: 0168. 519. 0566 (Mr. Hung, Dan’s neighbour)
2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
Tel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490
Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vn
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM – Thanh Cong Branch
* US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 137 195 6482
SWIFT Code: BFTVVNVX
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch
* US Dollar Account information at MB Bank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 0721100357002
SWIFT Code: MSCBVNVX
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - MCSB ( No.3, Lieu Giai str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam)
3. Dantri/DTiNews' representative offices
Ha Tinh representative office: 46 Nguyen Cong Tru, Tan Giang Ward, Ha Tinh City. Tel: 039.3857.112
Da Nang representative office: 25 Nguyen TriPhuong, Thanh Khe Dist., Da Nang City. Tel: 0511.3653.725
Ho Chi MinhCity representative office: 39L Street 11, Ward 3, Binh Thanh Dist, Hochiminh City. Tel: 08. 66786. 885
Can Tho representative office:53/13 Ly Tu Trong, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho City. Tel: 071.3.733.269
