Growing up from a loving home: A second family in life

Party to celebrate friends who have the same birthday in the first quarter of 2024 at Anh Sang shelter - Photo: T.HAI

Ms. Tran Thi Tam (65 years old), is currently the head of Saigon Railway Station Shelter (Hoang Sa Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City).

For over 30 years, this shelter has received, sponsored, cared for and educated many orphans and disadvantaged children, giving love to children who are not related by blood.

I always try to put myself in my children's shoes and not impose my adult thoughts on them. Perhaps that's why I can create trust and closeness with them.

Mr. NGUYEN THIEN HAI (Anh Sang orphanage)

Happiness under the same roof

The Saigon Railway Station Shelter was founded by a Dutch couple. They funded the operation and care for the children with the help of the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Charity Association, which mobilized benefactors to take in the youngest female child from 6 years old. Currently, the shelter is taking care of 16 children in especially difficult circumstances, orphans or whose families cannot afford to care for them.

At its busiest, the shelter had 22 children. They were fed and educated until they finished college or university. Ngo Yen Nhi (22 years old) is the eldest in the family. At the age of 7, her family experienced many changes, and Yen Nhi became Tam's child at the Saigon Station shelter. She is currently studying graphic design.

"Looking back, I see that my life was more fortunate than unfortunate, because even though I didn't live in the arms of my parents, I had a big family with my mother Tam and more than a dozen younger siblings" - Yen Nhi confided.

Ma Tam, head of the Saigon Railway Station orphanage, prepares uniforms for her children at the beginning of the new school year - Photo: THAO LE

In addition to Mrs. Tam, the shelter also has a nanny named Van. Although she is said to be the head of the shelter, Mrs. Tam is no different from a nanny. She helps the children with their homework, helps with cooking, housework, and cleaning for the younger children. On weekdays, the nannies cook for them, and on days off, the older children split into groups to cook, while the younger children help pick vegetables.

This shelter has several students who are university and college students. Tam's mother always tells her children to study hard so that they will have less hardship in life. "The older children can teach and tutor the younger ones. They all walk to school because the school is close to home. I love that they all study hard," said Tam.

In District 3, there is another long-standing private shelter, the Ánh Sáng shelter (Ward 4). It is currently taking care of 20 boys of various ages. Mr. Nguyen Thien Hai (48 years old) - head of the Ánh Sáng shelter - remembers that at first this was just a small shelter established by the district to support children selling lottery tickets, newspapers, and shining shoes in the Saigon train station area with a place to eat and sleep.

At that time, Mr. Hai was one of the members of the Street Educators Club. Many times he felt heartbroken when he saw many children aged 10-12 from the North and Central regions who had to "jump ship" to Saigon to make a living by doing various jobs. Until the People's Committee of District 3 and the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Charity Association established the Anh Sang shelter in 1998, Mr. Hai has been attached to the shelter until now.

It's like a family here. After school, the children help cook and clean the house. On weekends, the family plays soccer, goes on picnics, and participates in activities at the ward's Youth Union. Mr. Hai boasts that the children have a strong will to overcome difficulties, many of them study well and get into university and college. Hai's father always tells his children to be self-motivated and strive to find a bright path for themselves.

I hope you have your own happy home.

Talking about difficulties, Mr. Hai smiled and said that it was inevitable, especially for children aged 10-13, whose psychology and physiology changed, making them more playful and mischievous. At times like that, Mr. Hai turned into a friend to listen to his children's confidences and give them advice on their private matters.

Mr. Hai is the father of a little girl but also the father of 20 sons, so he often spends more time at the orphanage than with his own family. Knowing that his wife and children feel a bit sad when he has to spend time at the orphanage during the holidays, Mr. Hai often tells his daughter that without a father, she still has her mother and grandparents, but the brothers in the orphanage cannot be with their parents. "Thanks to that, my daughter also understands and accompanies her father," Mr. Hai said.

Mrs. Tam told herself, "If I love it, it will love me back." She said her children were understanding, caring, and helped take care of their sick mother. When they had good food at work, they would give it to their mother first. Not being tied down by family, she devoted all her time and energy to her home.

"You have to be patient, listen, talk, and monitor each child's psychological and physiological changes. I also have a notebook to record and track each child's menstrual cycle," Ms. Tam laughed.

The day we arrived at the Anh Sang shelter, Huynh Tran Phuong Nguyen (23 years old) came to visit. Nguyen currently lives elsewhere, works for a cosmetics company and whenever she has time, she comes back to visit the children.

"Growing up with the love and protection of my father Hai, I always remind myself to try hard so that when I have the opportunity, I can repay my father and help children in the same situation as me" - Nguyen confided.

There is no greater joy than seeing your children grow up and have jobs to make a living. Both Mr. Hai and Mrs. Tam said they do not wait for their children to return to support the place where they grew up. For them, just hoping that each child has a happy family of their own is enough to make them smile.

Test to support operations

Speaking with Tuoi Tre , Mr. Tran Thanh Tuc - Deputy Head of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of District 3 - said that from the two shelters Ga Sai Gon and Anh Sang, hundreds of children from difficult family circumstances have been cared for and have had the conditions to improve their lives.

In recent times, the department has coordinated with local authorities to regularly inspect and promote the good implementation of child care and protection at social protection facilities. "District and ward agencies and units regularly organize activities and connect with shelters to create playgrounds for children and promptly grasp the thoughts and activities at these places," said Mr. Tuc.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lon-len-tu-tinh-thuong-mai-am-gia-dinh-thu-hai-di-vao-doi-20240912230238934.htm