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Orangehelpers Proposal to the D.O.V.E. Fund
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Orangehelpers (OH) proposes a grant of $10,000 for the construction of five houses
for families of victims of Agent Orange in Phu Yen province, Vietnam.
(This project can be scaled up or down proportionately at a cost of $2,000 per house.)
Agent Orange families are often the poorest of the poor because the caregiver is denied
income generating labor, to say nothing of the burden of direct costs of care (medicines,
etc.). OH determined that the best way to help the victims was to enhance the economic
situation of the family in a sustainable way, so that not only would the victim enjoy
a better level of care, but the other family members, especially siblings, would have
more opportunities.
This is done in several ways:
- Micro-grants for investments in small businesses, livestock, etc.
- "scholarships" to allow the children in the family to go to school
- House construction
This last option became clear for cases when housing conditions were so deplorable,
that the first two options seemed totally inadequate. Kids who had been confined to
lying on a dirt floor or wooden platform in a dingy room, sometimes exposed to the
elements in the rainy season, now spend their days in clean, bright surroundings,
Two thousand dollars covers the cost of constructing a three room house with
connecting corridor suitable for a family of four or five, OH vets potential
recipients to verify need and appropriateness, We confirm that the family owns
the land beneath the proposed house or that land will be deeded to the family
by the commune. We work with the family to contract for the construction of the
house. OH also provides follow up evaluation to see if the family is in need of
assistance from one of our other programs.
At the dedication ceremony, The D.O.V.E. Fund would be acknowledged by a banner
and a permanent placard attached to the house. Follow up visits by The D.O.V.E.
Fund delegations could also be arranged.
Background:
Orangehelpers is a small, tax exempt international NGO working with families
which include a victim of Agent Orange. The founders, Bob Schuessler and his
wife Phan Thi Truyen, became aware of the plight of these families during the
Orange Walk, a walk of 1,000 miles from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi in spring
2008. They saw that in contrast to the handful of severe cases cared for in
official facilities, the Peace Villages, the overwhelming proportion of cases
were being cared for in the home, with woefully inadequate resources.
Case Studies:
Nqo.Van Tuy Family
Ngo Van Tuy is a husband and father of two sons. The effects of Agent Orange
deprive him of the use of his legs. We found his family living in desperate
conditions (see before and after pictures below). He is absent from his
family 80% of the time because his only means of earning money is to go
to Saigon to sell lottery tickets on the street. He sends his family about
$60 a month and visits them every six weeks or so. In spite of this, he is
able to keep his older son in school and has dreams for both his sons.
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Ngo Van Tuy with his family outside their family home
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Orangehelpers agreed to finance the reconstruction of his house and to
devise a plan to allow him to live at home with his wife and sons.
In return for his agreement to stay at home, Orangehelpers bought him
a young cow and some chickens. We further agreed to replace his monthly
income until the cow can be sold, at which time he will buy a new calf
and should have enough profit from the sale to sustain his family without
Orangehelper assistance.
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Orangehelper staff inspecting the Ngo Van Tuy family home
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The Tran Family
We met the Tran family as the rainy season was approaching
and witnessed their deplorable living situation. They lived
predominately in a single room constructed from plastic sheets
and sacks attached to a relative's house. The ever-smiling child, Agent Orange victim Tuan,
belied his family's desperate conditions. We were able to arrange
for construction of a new home on family land high on a hill
overlooking the sea. Porters carried several tons of materials
up the hill on a footpath and the house was substantially complete
before the worst of the rainy season.
We were thrilled with the result of this project and follow up
visits show that the family is comfortable, happy and extremely
grateful for the change in their lives. Tuan smiles on, but for
good reason now. Additional documentation of Orangehelper projects
can be viewed at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/orangehelpers/set
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<Make a Donation for "Agent Orange" projects
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