For years, every morning began the same way for Mrs. Lai—rising before dawn, stepping onto the dusty streets, and combing the neighborhood for recyclables. The modest income she earned as an informal waste collector barely covered the cost of daily meals. But she had no choice—her 30-year-old son, who lives with mental health challenges, could only find low-paying jobs, and her 15-year-old daughter still needed support to stay in school.
Mrs. Lai lost her husband in 2017 after four long years of illness, during which she fell into debt caring for him. Their small home, repaired with government support in 2016, still lacked basic essentials—no proper bed, no wardrobe, not even the comfort of a well-lit space.
“I worried every day,” she recalls. “Would I have enough to feed my children? Would my daughter be able to stay in school? Would my son keep his job? I lived in constant fear of what tomorrow might bring.”
Then, in the spring of 2024, Children of Vietnam offered her a new path forward. Through a microloan and business training, Mrs. Lai was able to expand her recycling work and begin selling reading glasses. She learned how to manage her earnings wisely and, with additional livelihood support, decided to try her hand at chicken farming again—this time equipped with knowledge, confidence, and the right tools. Today, her chickens provide eggs to sell, giving her an extra, reliable source of income.
The support didn’t stop at income generation. Children of Vietnam also helped improve Mrs. Lai’s living conditions. She received a new bed and a wardrobe, bringing much-needed comfort and dignity to her home. Her daughter, who once struggled to study in dim lighting, now has a proper study lamp and a scholarship—helping to ease the burden of educational costs.
But the most remarkable transformation has been in Ms. Lai herself.
“I used to focus only on survival. Now, I think about the future,” she says. “I’ve learned to manage my work and build something that lasts. I even talk to my daughter differently—we discuss her studies, her safety, things I never thought to bring up before.”
Just a year ago, Mrs. Lai lived in uncertainty. Today, she walks with quiet confidence. Her business is growing, her home feels safer, her family is stronger—and fear has been replaced by hope.
“I am no longer just surviving,” she says with a smile. “I am building a life.”