School girl supports family

A 14-year old girl has to rise up and take hold of the family reigns to take care of her younger brother and mentally challenged mother.

Nhung’s mother, wordless

Nhung takes care of her mother

“For many years our mother did not remember who we were. Even though I loved her she was condemned to live in a world of her own. It must be miserable,” says Trinh Thi Nhung, student at Thanh Hung Secondary School, Thach Thanh District, central Ha Tinh Province.

Nhung\'s father, Trinh Van Hau, died of cirrhosis of liver when she was just two years old, and her mother was still pregnant.

And Nhung\'s mother, Pham Thi Hue, became extremely depressed after her husband died which led to mental illness for her. It’s come to the point where now, sometimes she gets up for the bathroom in the middle of the night and Nhung has to go search for her at neighboring farms.

Despite Nhung’s troubles, she hopes to become a doctor one day.

Every day, before even going to school, Nhung must make breakfast for her family and wash their clothes. She also has to take care of her family’s farm. She outside works for extra money.

Her younger brother, Trinh Van Quyen, now in the sixth grade, has to attend school despite of all these difficulties.

He has followed his sister’s example and become an extraordinary student. He’s gone to the 9th round in his school’s online maths contest, and has hopes of competing at the national level.

Vice Rector of her school, Do Manh Hung, commented, “Nhung and her younger brother have a special family situation. But they are well liked at this school. Despite their difficulties, they always come to school.”

“I would like to become a doctor so I can treat my mother. I wish that she could recognise us, so that makes her feel better. I wish she could also see how well I’m doing in school,” Nhung said.

Quyen said that, “I hope to pass the entrance exam to a military university, which better help me serve my family and my country.”

Their dream is simple but meaningful. It remains up to them to realise it.

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