AO victim children are provided with vocational training (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA)– The Vietnam Friendship Village, set up 20 years ago, has contributed to easethe pain for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims by giving nursing services andvocational training to AO-infected veterans and children.
The Vietnam FriendshipVillage, which is run by the Vietnam Veterans’ Association, was formed on March18, 1998. It covers over 3 hectares in Van Canh commune, Hoai Duc district ofHanoi.
It is a symbol of internationalsolidarity for peace and friendship. The village was built with cooperation ofsix countries – the US, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and the UK following theinitiative of George George Mizo, a US war veteran who joined the war in thesouth of Vietnam.
The construction was fundedwith over 2 million USD from the Friendship Village International Committee andthe Vietnamese Government.
After 20 years ofoperation, the village welcomed over 6,500 war veterans, former youthvolunteers who are AO/dioxin victims and 700 children of the second and thirdAO victim generations.
The veterans andformer youth volunteers receive treatment and nursing services and have chancesto join cultural and sport activities as well as visits to different places andconvalescences.
Meanwhile, almost childrenadopted by the village are living with disabilities, especially intellectualdisability due to the toxic chemical. Along with rehabilitation, they areprovided with education and vocational training such as IT, embroidery, tailoringand making fabric flowers. Many of them have managed to find jobs and earnmoney. The most important thing is that they can integrate into society withouta complex about their disabilities.
Each year, theFriendship Village International Committee provides financial assistance for thevillage. The village has become a venue for international friends who wish tomeet and assist the victims.
With its efforts andachievements over the past 20 years, the village was honoured with the first classof Labour Order and certificates of merit from the Government and the PartyCentral Committee’s Commission on Information and Education.
In the coming time, thevillage aims to become a model in humanitarian and charitable activities, adestination of friends at home and abroad as well as a symbol of solidarity,peace, friendship, cooperation and reconciliation.-VNA
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