The Advocacy Project is seeking $1,500 to help our Vietnamese partner, the AEPD, support the family of Mrs An, seen in this photo with her two children. This family is one of thousands poisoned by the defoliant Agent Orange. Mrs An's husband was exposed to Agent Orange in the war and passed it on to their children - Huong, who has lost an eye, and their daughter Hoa, who has Down Syndrome. Your donations will help this hard-pressed family to purchase a buffalo and pay for vital medical treatment
Agent Orange was sprayed over Vietnam during the war in the early 1960s, but it continues to devastate the lives of Vietnamese today. Mrs. An's husband Mr. Hung was exposed to Agent Orange as a soldier. Her son Huong developed problems at age 9 and has since lost 90% of his vision. Mrs. An's daughter Hoa needs constant care. All of this puts incredible pressure on Mrs An, an aging widow. Helping such courageous women is a humanitarian act, and makes a strong statement against the cruelty of war.
Mrs An will use your donations to buy a buffalo, which her sons Hoi and Huong will raise on her farm. The buffalo will produce a calf, which Mrs An will sell to pay for vital surgery to prevent Huong's vision from getting any worse. Mrs. An will also use her buffalo to work her farm, produce fertilizer, and rent out to other farmers. This will allow her to feed her family, pay for Huong's surgery and buy essential medicine for Huong and Hoa. AEPD will check in on her regularly and report back.
Mrs. An's family will be the sixth to receive funding through The Advocacy Project and AEPD, which empowers victims of war in Vietnam. Each case has shown us that the simple gift of a buffalo can change the lives of these families, by providing the caregiver with a sustainable source of income. This benefits the caregivers and children, of course. But it also strengthens entire communities in Vietnam, which have been devastated by Agent Orange, and ensures that this tragedy is not forgotten.
