Learned generosity

“It was a beautiful country with kind-hearted people that I could never forget," Trang recalled her visit to Japan meeting her sponsors seven years ago, when she was a World Vision’s sponsored child. “I had been very much shy until I joined World Vision’s children club. Frequently corresponding with my sponsors also encouraged me to fly my timidity away.”

Trang keeps all the photos of her first visit to Japan seven years ago.

Trang has taken a step closer to fulfilling her dream as she is now a student at an University of Education.

“Our stable income keeps our kids going to school,” affirmed Bui Van Toan, Trang’s father. “World Vision helped us join training courses where we learnt and practiced to raise pigs, chicken and to plan safe vegetables. So far, we’ve got paid off from what we learnt.”

With their annual income around US $2,200, Trang’s parents afford to send their three daughters to higher education, with the oldest having just graduated university and the youngest going to high school.

“Frequently corresponding with my sponsors also encouraged me to fly my timidity away.”

Recently, with World Vision’s support, farmers in Van Yen district where Trang’s family lives have got “the certificate of compliance with food safety regulations”. It means Trang’s mother can sell her vegetable to supermarkets.

“Having escaped poverty, I’m positive of our kids’ future,” says Ha Thi Tot, Trang’s mother.

“Once I stepped out of my village flying to Japan, I’ve learnt that generosity can change lives of poor farmers like my parents, and of shy kids as me," reveals Trang.

 Trang with her mother and younger sister

Vietnamese resources by Nguyen Van Thang, Van Yen ADP Manager, Written by Tran My Hang, communications officer