Khanh Hoa Center for Social Work and Children's Protection Fund has organized several practical activities to help the generosity of contributions and sponsorships from individuals and organizations reach out to children in need...
Khanh Hoa Center for Social Work and Children’s Protection Fund has organized several practical activities to help the generosity of contributions and sponsorships from individuals and organizations reach out to children in need.
For children’s smile
Khanh Hoa Center for Social Work and Children’s Protection Fund has been a bridge from the caring, concerned community to hundreds of children born with disabilities, cleft lips or palates, according to Tran Hiep, Director of Khanh Hoa Social Work Center.
5-year-old Cao Van Huyen, Bau Sang Village, Lien Sang Commune, Khanh Vinh District suffers from a congenital cleft palate. Struggling to make ends meet, they delayed getting medical help. “We are poor with 3 children to take care of. We didn’t have enough money for my child’s treatment. Luckily, thanks to the Operation Smile program, my child has been screened, treated and provided financial support for cleft palate operation to help become more confident integrating into the community.
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In 2020, the Operation Smile conducted more than 100 cleft lip and palate surgeries nationwide, including 5 in Khanh Hoa, mostly in Khanh Vinh District. Besides, the program has also provided surgery support for finger stick defects or extra finger removal surgery.
2-year-old Cao Thai Han, Ca Thieu, Khanh Hiep Commune, Khanh Vinh District has an extra finger but her family could not afford an operation. The child has been introduced to the surgery aid program. “My family is really grateful for the program which has given my child a valuable chance for surgery,” said her mother named Cao Thi Hong.
Assistance for needy kids
Besides surgeries to repair cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, through charity programs and projects, the center has helped nurture many kids’ dreams. In 2019, the center mobilized more than VND43 million to cover surgery cost for 5-year-old Le Son Tung with acquired heart defects in Ninh Hoa Town thanks to the medical treatment funding for kids under 6 for heart operation.
His mom named Le Thi Hien had to sell her house to cover the treatment expenses. “The financial aid is like a life-line for my family at that time. Now the child has recovered but he is still weak and probably needs another surgery,” she said.
An annual student financial aid program held by the center in partnership with AIA Vietnam has donated thousands of bikes to disadvantaged students to facilitate their going to school.
Thai Ba Khanh Vinh, an orphan, an 8th-grader at Vo Thi Sau Junior High School, Nha Trang City was so happy to receive a new bike. “My parents died when I was little. I have been living with my paternal grandparents since then. My grandma is sick and my granddad becomes the only breadwinner in the family. Knowing the situation, I didn’t ask them to buy me anything. The bike is the most precious gift I have ever received,” the boy said.
Khanh Hoa Center for Social Work and Children’s Protection Fund has connected kind hearts with less fortunate kids. “We will continue calling for donations from organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals to charity programs for the sake of needy children, contributing to child care and protection,” added Tran Hiep.
Thanh Truc
Translated by N.T
