Em Phuoc turned 9 years old this year, which is the age where thousands of questions about the world are constantly being asked, sometimes making adults tired, but that is his parents' biggest dream.
He was diagnosed with a language disorder with Down syndrome, a disadvantage for both him and his family. He is timid, afraid to communicate and often hide behind his mother when he sees strangers. This year he is in grade 3, but his communication and acquisition of knowledge face many obstacles. He can't use long sentences or exclamations to express his feelings even through his eyes, there are still so many things he wants to express.
Though the family's conditions are not good, the family always tries to set aside some money to take the child for language intervention in many places, near and far, but he still doesn't get better. It seems like all his family's hopes will be abandoned here.
“But then the project Inclusion 1 came, like a fairytale of his family.”
Phuoc is supported by Ms. Huyen and Ms. Vi who are young, enthusiastic and dedicated technicians, currently working in the field of Speech Therapy in Da Nang as part of the Home Intervention Project team regularly every week from 1-2 times. Regardless of whether it's raining or sunny, they always wake up at 4 a.m. to travel more than 100km from Da Nang to Nui Thanh to meet em Phuoc, as well as other children. Because of responsibility, love and especially em Phuoc really looks forward to seeing them come.
After 5 months of intervention, Phuoc had many clear improvements, receptive language from 21-32 months reached the 36-38 month mark, expressive language from 24-32 months developed to the 36-38 month mark. To achieve this, it is the efforts of all the technicians, parents and Phuoc himself. Her mother shared, "Seeing my child's changes, I don't know what words to use to describe my feelings. The teachers not only taught me knowledge to be able to accompany my child, but also how to behave with him and children in the family. I wonder if you, as strangers, can be so patient, gentle and kind to my children, how come I can not. I also have to try harder to change myself.”
Now, in that house, there was more laughter. Phuoc began chirping with his parents and brother. He also helped his mother serve tea cakes to the technicians when they arrived.
"Project to support improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange'' have implemented in the three provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam (Inclusion Project 1) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under the management of the Project Owner of the National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET) - under the Ministry of Defense, through Funding management organization Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population(CCIHP).
