Examples of overcoming oneself

A bee company director, a disabled people's association president or a talented artist... are proof that many Agent Orange (AO) victims have overcome themselves and made positive contributions to socio-economic development.

Each of their journeys and paths speaks to the extraordinary will and determination of those who carry within them the legacy of Agent Orange and the pain of war, even though it has been nearly half a century...

Mr. Pham Thanh Xuan introduces high quality honey products. (Photo: NVCC)

Disabled but not useless

Mr. Pham Thanh Xuan (2/4 grade disabled veteran, 77% disability rate, 60% Agent Orange infection rate) is currently a member of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Bao Ha commune, Bao Yen district, Lao Cai province.

Enlisted in 1971 in Company 18, Regiment 141, Division 2, Central Highlands battlefield, after completing the mission of protecting the Fatherland, in 1974, he returned to civilian life, developing the economy with his family.

At that time, life was very difficult because he only had one arm and the after-effects of Agent Orange eroded his body day and night with seemingly unbearable pain.

However, promoting the tradition and good qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, not accepting poverty, Mr. Xuan and his wife and children started to cultivate plant varieties to serve the people in developing the agricultural and forestry economy. Every year, his family exports from 800 thousand to 1 million cinnamon seedlings and other forestry trees combined with beekeeping for honey.

In 2009, he decided to establish Thanh Xuan Mountain Bee Development Company Limited, registering an exclusive trademark nationwide.

For more than ten years, he and the company's leaders have taken bee farms to exploit seasonally in the Northern provinces and the Central Highlands, each year yielding 15 to 20 tons of honey, tons of pollen and hundreds of kilograms of royal jelly.

In 2019, he continued to establish a cooperative called Thanh Phong Agricultural Cooperative, raising 100 breeding cows. Up to now, the company and cooperative owned by him have grown more and more, the family economy is stable, and the house is well-built.

In addition to his business, Mr. Xuan always responds to and takes the lead in all movements launched by the commune, district, and province. Among them, the movement that he devotes much effort to is providing technical advice on beekeeping for veterans and victims of Agent Orange.

His family has always actively participated in other movements such as building new rural areas, helping and creating jobs for poor and disadvantaged households in the locality, veterans and children of veterans who are Agent Orange victims.

In particular, for many years, on the occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27, he gave gifts to veterans and victims of Agent Orange in his residential area and hometown.

Mr. Xuan shared: "Although the gifts are small, I am very excited to contribute to the movement of gratitude, promoting the tradition of remembering the source of drinking water of Party committees at all levels, authorities, and people of all ethnic groups across the country."

Through years of overcoming difficulties to develop the economy and participating in movements, Mr. Xuan has been recognized by the Party and the State and awarded many noble prizes: three times he was awarded the First, Second and Third Class Labor Medal by the President; twice he was awarded certificates of merit by the Prime Minister and was awarded five commemorative medals by the Party Central Committee for Mass Mobilization, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam Veterans Association, and the Vietnam Farmers' Association.

It can be said that these are noble rewards, recognizing Mr. Xuan's own efforts, and are the motivation to help him continue to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, always being exemplary and a shining example for future generations.

A painting of Uncle Ho by Ms. Luong Thi Hong Yen. (Photo: NVCC)

Dream named "Wind Chimes"

NNCĐDC Luong Thi Hong Yen was born in 1988 in a poor family in Xuan Tan ward, Long Khanh city, Dong Nai province.

This girl was exposed to Agent Orange since birth, resulting in muscle atrophy and scoliosis. In order to be able to go to school like her peers, her mother stayed up late and woke up early every day to arrange work, taking time to carry her to school from grade 1 to grade 5. After completing primary school, she was forced to stay home from school due to her declining health.

With the thought of trying to rise up with ordinary people in society, Yen researched and learned how to use computers and smart devices.

She studied reading books, documents, accessed the Internet and started drawing, mainly with pencils and took the stage name "Wind Chimes" with the wish to convey joy like the clear sound of wind chimes.

After Yen's paintings were posted on social networking sites, many people ordered her paintings, especially portrait paintings.

With this beloved job, Yen has found joy and value in work. Besides, she still diligently studies and researches new painting methods on the internet to improve her knowledge and skills.

A heart for the community

Also a victim of Agent Orange, Mr. Duong Van Binh in Bach Quang ward, Song Cong city, Thai Nguyen province, has risen up to become rich and help the community.

Binh’s father joined the army in 1968, fought in the Central Highlands battlefield and was infected with Agent Orange. When peace was restored, he returned to his hometown and had four children, all of whom were deformed and disabled. Binh, born in 1976, has atrophied legs, a hunchback, and a curved spine.

He confided: “I longed to go to school to learn. My parents supported my dream and took turns taking me to and from school. Some of my classmates called me “hunchback” and “crooked leg” which made me feel scared every time I went to school.

I felt very self-conscious. In addition, due to poor health, I dropped out of school twice. But then, with the encouragement of my teachers and friends, I was determined to go to class and study well. After that, my friends looked at me more favorably. My way to school was filled with blood and calluses on my hands, and my feet crawling on gravel.

In addition to working at an electronics repair shop, Mr. Duong Van Binh also devotedly takes care of his herd of cows. (Source: Thai Nguyen Province Association of Victims of Agent Orange)

With the help of teachers and friends, Binh finished high school and later graduated from Central Vocational College I. In 2001, he returned to his hometown of Song Cong and asked his parents for capital to open an electronics repair shop.

With increasingly high skills and a sense of attentive customer service, his number of customers is increasing. Not stopping there, he has gathered disabled people and Agent Orange victims in the area to teach them free of charge.

When he had a stable family, he continued to invest in buying land to build a livestock farm. In 2014, his family also opened a garment factory, creating jobs and income for many people with disabilities and Agent Orange victims.

In 2012, the Association of the Disabled in Song Cong City was established at the proposal of Mr. Binh and he was elected as Chairman of the Association.

Up to now, after more than 10 years of working in social work, Mr. Binh has forgotten his own shortcomings and always cares for people with disabilities and those who have many difficulties in life.

At the recent 4th Congress of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Thai Nguyen province, he was an official delegate who reported on his role as a typical example at the Congress and was praised and admired by the entire Congress for his determination to overcome difficulties in life.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhung-tam-guong-vuot-len-chinh-minh-257891.html