Ha's Story

Photo: Victor Brott

Many girls like Ha are taking part in Plan's educational programmes designed for street and working children

Written by Ha - an 8-year old girl from Vietnam

"My name is Ha, I am 8 years old and I live with my mother on a small boat in Hue city in central Vietnam. My father passed away a long time ago leaving my mother and I to provide for ourselves by taking sand from the local rivers and selling it on to other people. Each morning my mother and I get up at 3am and work straight through until 3pm with out a tea or lunch break. At the time I did not mind working hard to help my mother, but I really wished that I could have gone to school to learn like other children my age.

"Last year my mother heard about a local compassion ward that organises informal education classes in the evening for children like me who face difficult circumstances. The very next day my mother took me to a class at the compassion ward where I was immediately made to feel welcome. We were so excited to hear that it was free for all to attend, thanks to the support of Plan and its partners. I have since made lots of friends and together we learn mathematics, reading and writing. I also participate in recreational activities such as drawing, story writing and sports competitions.

"So far I have been very fortunate to have been awarded several prizes for drawings and stories. When I tell my mother of my awards and goods results at school it makes her so happy, sometimes she even cries with joy. She always tells me how proud she is of me and how thankful she is I am able to attend the classes at the compassion ward. I promised my mother that I will try my best at school so that one day I can earn enough money to take good care of her in the future.

Ha's story gained the encouragement prize in a writing contest recently organised by Plan and the Committee for Population Children and Family (CPFC)  Hue.