For 12-year-old Phong, the simple act of going to school felt impossible.
Living with autism and congenital hyperactivity disorder, Phong’s world was one of overwhelming frustration. Emotional outbursts, shouting, and restlessness were his only ways to communicate. His mother, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, faced a heartbreaking reality: her son was being left behind, and she was powerless to stop it.
The barriers were relentless. Financial hardship meant therapy, consistent medication, and even education were out of reach. Without proper support, Phong could only manage one short school session a day. His development stalled; his future grew dimmer. He didn’t want to go to school because the world had shown him it wasn’t a place that welcomed him.
“We wanted to help Phong,” Ms. Ha shares, her words echoing the desperation of countless parents in Vietnam. “But we could only do so much.”
Phong’s story is not unique. Across Vietnam, children with disabilities are too often hidden away, their potential extinguished by a lack of resources, understanding, and inclusive support. The isolation is crushing. The opportunity gap is immense.
This is the crisis: a child who wants to learn but is locked out by circumstances far beyond his control.
But for Phong, a lifeline appeared.
In August 2023, Phong was welcomed into Children of Vietnam’s Hope System of Care (HSC). This program provided the critical support his family couldn’t: an inclusive education scholarship, daily access to school, medical care, and consistent therapy.
This intervention changed everything.
Now, Phong wakes up eager to learn. He puts on his backpack and walks to school, a child finally met with understanding instead of resistance.
His remarkable progress is a testament to what is possible, but it is first and foremost a warning. For every Phong, there are thousands of children and mothers like Ms. Ha throughout Vietnam, still waiting for their lifeline. Still facing the same impossible choice.
Your support can be that lifeline. You can break down the barriers of poverty and isolation that keep children with disabilities from the classroom.
Phong’s first step toward possibility began with support. Your donation can ensure another child’s does, too.