Misfortune befalls orphaned boys

Two orphans in Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province are in need of financial support to continue their education after gradually losing their family members.

Pham Van Hoang

Pham Van Hoang, born in 2001, has lost his parents and brother over the years. Both Hoang's parents had mental illness on their medical records. His father was admitted to hospital and his mother suffered from depression. In 2013, his mother accidentally fell into a lake and drowned.

Hoang's father, Pham Van Vinh, was released from hospital and then went to Ha Tinh Province to work as bricklayer, leaving Hoang and his older brother to live alone together.

In 2014, Hoang woke up because of loud noise and was horrified seeing his father had returned and was beating his brother to death. Hoang's father once again was admitted to hospital but his brother died from his injuries. By the end of the year, His father was released after making a recovery but was tortured by what happened.

"My father cried a lot. He kept looking at my brother's altar and cried. He told me to be good and study hard," Hoang said.

Two weeks later, his father committed suicide. Hoang's grandparents then moved in to live with him but because of their old age, they can't help him much.

"Sympathised with his situation, teachers and other pupils have made donation so that at least Hoang can finish high school," Hoang's teacher said.

Also living in Nam Dan District is Dang Thanh Son, who is in the same age as Hoang and also lost his family.

Dang Thanh Son

Son's father died when he was two years old then in 2010, his mother died after getting sick. A few months after the death of their mother, Son's sister died in an accident while walking home. His grandmother died the same year and his grandfather died last year.

Son was then looked after by an aunt but their relatives are also poor.

Nguyen Van Tan, headmaster of Phuc Cuong Secondary School, said the staff and pupils tried to help Son so he could continue his education.