In the evening of September 28th, the Fund for victims of agent orange/dioxin in Ben Tre province financed by the main sponsor, which is Aloe Trading Company (ATC), was officially launched at the big Hall of Ben Tre province people’s committee. Standing Deputy Secretary of Ben Tre province committee – Mr. Ha Thanh Nien, Chairman of province people’s committee – Mr. Nguyen Thai Xay, central and local officials, enterprises and benefactors attended this launching ceremony.
Total amount of social organizations, enterprises and benefactors contributed to the above Fund was over 3,5 billion VND; in which Viet Nam association central of victims of agent orange/dioxin contributed 500 million VND to build Boarding Foster Center for children of victims of agent orange/dioxin in the province. ATC contributed 300 million VND, HCM City Association for protection of disabled people and orphans was 193 million VND, Ben Tre province Branch of Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam was 150 million VND, officials and teachers of Department of Education and Training in Binh Dai district (Ben Tre province) was 122 million VND, Association of Viet Nam’s Friend was 100 million VND…
Children of victims of agent orange/dioxin in Chau Thanh district. (Photo: P.L.H.H.)
Chairman of Ben Tre province association of victims of agent orange/dioxin – Mrs. Le Thi Thanh Van stated that via this Fund, from present to 2013, Association will set up and develop boarding foster house for 20-30 children of victims of agent orange/dioxin combined with free vocational training program, in order to create the stable jobs for 50-100 children aimed at reducing burden for their families and the society. Building 100 houses of affection, support a starting capital for small business model or breeding for 1.000 poor agent orange/dioxin households in order to improve their lives, constantly support 2.000 scholarships per year for poor pupils, students, victims of agent orange/dioxin. The Association strives to achieve 25-30 billion VND of the campaigned Fund until 2020.
At the launching ceremony, Mr. Michael – Advisor of ATC expressed his feeling that: “For victims of agent orange/dioxin, I understand that, they are the serious consequences that our Americans have left after the end of war. I do not dare to represent American to say apologies to Vietnamese, I can only show my empathy for these destructive victims of agent orange/dioxin. In order to prove my empathy, on the occasion of the launching ceremony for Fund of victims of agent orange/dioxin in Ben Tre province today, I would like to contribute a small amount of mine to the Fund. I hope that the maecenas will enthusiastically contribute together to jointly assist these unfortunate lives”.
In the war against American’s invasion to preserve the country, in Ben Tre province, the American soldiers sprayed toxic chemicals over an area accounted for 444 km2/2.225 km2, which was ranked as the 6th province out of 22 provinces and towns which were sprayed toxic chemicals. Hence, the number of people infected with toxic chemicals in Ben Tre province was 13.310 ones, including hundreds of families have two, three or four people got poisoned.
Children of victims of agent orange/dioxin in room of reviving movement function (Phu Tuc commune, Chau Thanh district). (Photo: P.L.H.H.)
Vice Chairman of Ben Tre province people’s committee – Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao on behalf of province people’s committee calls for business organizations, religion organizations, society humane organizations, local and foreign benefactors in province with their wide-open heart to support Fund of victims of agent orange/dioxin in Ben Tre province to contribute to compensate for loss and pain of victims.
Simultaneously Mr. Nguyen Quoc Bao sincerely thanks the units, enterprises as well as benefactors sponsored the Fund and its launching ceremony today.
In part of “Gratitude of humane hearts”, Chairman of Ben Tre province People’s committee – Mr. Nguyen Thai Xay awarded Certificate of merit of province people’s committee for enterprises, humane society organizations and benefactors jointly contribute to soften the pain of agent orange in Ben Tre province.
Phan Lu Hoang Ha.
Source: Extracted from website Socio-Economic Information of Ben Tre province