Staff Interview: Phan Thị Thanh Hương

Meet Hương, one of our dedicated and energetic teachers working with disabled children at Peace Village. She is from Quang Binh province, has a bachelor’s degree in literature from Hue University, and taught high school for four years before she came to CCV.

Why did you want to teach at CCV?

Ever since I graduated from college, through teaching I have discovered the joy of helping others.  It has become a passion. The opportunity to use that experience to give new meaning to the lives of the children at CCV, especially those with disabilities, as well as to explore new environments, increase my skills and widen the scope of my usefulness, has given my own life new meaning.

Since coming to CCV, what is the most exciting aspect of your work?

The fun.  Seeing how enthusiastic the children are in expressing their opinions and answering my questions.  The atmosphere at CCV is comfortable yet dynamic -- the children are having fun, and so am I!

Has anything surprised you about the children you work with?

Every day I am surprised by their progress. For instance, little Loi can now stand unsupported for up to five minutes. More and more, he understands everything we say and one by one is learning the letters of the alphabet. 

Hương and Loi

Can you share a memorable moment or two with us since starting to work with these children? 

Since coming to work for CCV, I was the closest to Duyen. Duyen is a child with a quick mind, this is reflected through her eyes and face. But she has cerebral palsy. When she still had difficulties with movement, she used to be fed by our staff. Through a period of training she has learned to grip her food—she loves eating cake!—and sit up straight. Now, when the cake is within reach, she uses her feet to move her body and her hands to grab the cake and put it in her mouth. Her great progress has made us all happy and is the kind of thing that motivates us.

What would you like to see happen in your neighborhood, in your country, concerning children like those who are in the program at CCV?

Special Education is not a field either recognized or taught in universities in Vietnam.  I would like all the children to have the same opportunities as the children at Peace Village, to have access to special education, to go to school, to develop intellectually and physically—to be treated with care and respect like other children in society.

Short name, but long on effort....and progress!

This is Ý (pronounced "ee" with a rising tone). Life has changed dramatically for Ý in the past year, thanks to our program.  He has cerebral palsy and is one of the children our staff is working with at Peace Village. His mother died in 2013 when he was 9 years old.  His remaining family—his dad and three siblings—lives in a remote mountain village.   Struggling to earn a living and care for his children alone, the added burden of Ý’s special needs soon became too much for his father to deal with.  In 2014 he placed Ý in Peace Village.  Until we started our program in 2017, Ý had never been to school. His intellectual capacity is normal, but because of weakness on his right side and poorly-developed fine motor skills, his speech is slurred, and he has difficulty with walking and other daily activities.

He is eagerly learning to add, multiply and divide.  And thanks to the work of our Physical Therapist Thúy, his walking has improved greatly.  The boy I saw limping slowly and awkwardly in Peace Village nine months earlier, by May 2018 had much greater control—and even carried a chair across the room!

Here you can see how his handwriting has improved: We’re very proud of Ý!

Larry Borten, Founder

Welcome to ChildCare Vietnam!

In an orphanage surrounded by rice fields, life has changed dramatically for a group of kids who had never known what their own minds and bodies could do.  As some begin to read and write, others to stand and walk their own, their faces reflect what it means to suddenly discover undreamed-of abilities within oneself.  

The intent focus of 4-year-old Loi, who has cerebral palsy, the raised hands and expressions of Công and Tien, whose special needs prevented their enrolment in regular school, speak of an experience a visiting pediatric physiotherapist called “a massive change from just a few short years ago” – an experience more than 20 children with mental or physical disabilities are now awakening to each day.  

Here, we will keep you posted on the progress our kids are making, acquaint you with our dedicated staff, and update you on our future plans.  ChildCare Vietnam needs your support to continue its ground-breaking work!  Please subscribe below, оr follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.  And please share this post with your friends!