(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam will observe a Day for Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims on August 10, six decades after the day in 1961 when the first flight carrying Agent Orange/dioxin sprayed the defoliant on southern Vietnam.
 US warplanes sprayed Agent Orange/Dioxin on southern Vietnam (Photo: NYT) |
The loss and pain caused by this long-term disaster has now impacted several generations. Despite their chronic suffering, AO/Dioxin victims have managed to contribute to their community and inspire in others a positive attitude toward life.
Chu Quang Duc of Hanoi inherited his disability from his father, who was an Agent Orange victim. Duc now teaches computer science at a Hanoi high school.
'I think I need to work harder to teach my students to keep pace with current technological development trends. I’ve increased my knowledge through online learning and reading a lot. I try to keep improving my teaching skills,' said Duc.
 Teacher Chu Quang Duc and his father Chu Quang Chien, a war veteran (Photo: Ha Nh/baoquocte.vn) |
Duong Van Binh of Thai Nguyen province is an Agent Orange victim. Despite being disabled, he started his own electronic repair shop and later opened a garment workshop that now employs dozens of workers with disabilities.
"Every year the municipal Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs organize vocational training classes for AO/dioxin victims. After completing the training, they come to work in my workshop. They earn about 200 USD a month,' said Binh.
Over the years, the Fund for Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims has raised more than 113 million USD to help AO victims. Peace villages, friendship villages, and centers for disabled children have been set up to support, train, and generate jobs for AO victims to help them become useful citizens.