Meeting with the donor of the Project named "Seed of Hope"

In the morning of June 30, 2015, Can Tho City Association of Victims of Agent Orange, the relevant Departments and agencies together with the children who are beneficiaries from the Project and their families had a warm welcome meeting with Ms. Masako Sakata, the donor of "Seed of Hope" Project from Japan.

At the meeting, Ms. Tran Lien Kieu, President of Can Tho Association of Victims of Agent Orange, extended sincere gratitude to the charitable heart of Ms. Masako Sakata because Ms. Masako Sakata gave many scholarships to the City's children victims of Agent Orange. She elaborated on the "Seed of Hope" Project that the Project has funded 100 victims of Agent Orange in the country, including six victims in Can Tho City. She also provided further information on the number of victims of Agent Orange in the City with 4,435 victims, among which are more than 1,200 severely affected victims who cannot take care of themselves. There are 150 in 4,435 children victims who are still able to study and to work. Although the children have learning abilities, their difficult family circumstances prevent them from going to school. Finally, she briefly reported on how the children benefit from the Project. The total value of sponsorship in Can Tho City is 108 million VND/6 children within three years from 2011 to 2013. The beneficiaries used the fund for right purposes and strived to study and overcome themselves. Three of them got a stable job while the others are still going to school.

To response to Ms. Kieu, Ms. Masako Sakata informed the financing for "Seed of Hope" Project. The source of funding was formed by the donations of the audience of the movie about Agent Orange victims affected by the wars in Vietnam. The movie was produced by Ms. Masako Sakata and her husband, who passed away due to infection of Agent Orange when making movies during the war in Vietnam. Ms. Masako Sakata added that in Vietnam there are a great number of Agent Orange victims who have poor living conditions. However, given the Project's scale, few victims were assisted, including the ones in Can Tho City, to alleviate life difficulties and especially, to keep going to school with their learning abilities to find a job.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Lien, one of six beneficiaries from Can Tho city, presented her thanks at the meeting

On behalf of the beneficiaries from Can Tho city, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Lien presented her deep thanks to the relevant Departments at different levels, especially Ms. Masako Sakata who have encouraged and helped the children victims both on material and spirit to build more belief and energy to continue their lives, study and become a helpful person in society.