Cam Lo, Quang Tri (November 4, 2024): Nguyen Thi Tai, suffering from severe congenital cerebral palsy linked to Agent Orange, is unable to walk. She is confined to bed, entirely dependent on her mother’s care. From now on, her mother, Tran Thi Gai, brings Tai to Ngoc Lo Pagoda where she receives care and support from the nuns, offering some relief from the pain of her disability. Here, the mother assists the pagoda with tasks like picking vegetables, sweeping the yard, and helping the nuns, using every spare moment to care for her daughter.

The story of Gai and her daughter is one of many touching tales at Ngoc Lo Pagoda, a Buddhist facility in Cam Lo district, serving as a loving second home for the rehabilitation journey of children with disabilities.

In 2023, Project RENEW’s Victim Assistance/Disability Support Program, funded by the Irish Government through the Irish Embassy in Vietnam, began supporting Ngoc Lo Pagoda in caring for children with disabilities from Monday to Friday, providing them with basic rehabilitation support.

This funding has enabled the pagoda to continue and expand its rehabilitation activities, particularly in providing necessary equipment, improving children’s nutrition, and paying stable salaries for caregivers.

Ngoc Lo Pagoda focuses on caring for children aged 5 to 18, primarily those affected by Agent Orange and from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds. With the goal of functional recovery, the nuns perform massages and stretching exercises to help children with muscle damage and limited movement recover and reduce muscle spasms. Additionally, the nuns and caregivers provide the children with a full diet while adhering to the pagoda’s vegetarian lifestyle.

According to Nun Nguyet Lien, around 80% of the children being cared for at Ngoc Lo Pagoda have made positive progress in restoring their motor skills. For children with particularly severe conditions like Ga’s daughter, the center focuses on physical therapy such as massage and stretching to reduce the risk of muscle spasms.

“Most of these children face great difficulties with housing, clean water, and their own health,” said Nun Nguyet Lien. “Thanks to the government’s and community’s concern, they have received rehabilitation support to move towards community integration.”

Nun Nguyen Lien also shared the challenges faced by the Ngoc Lo Pagoda Children’s Rehabilitation Center: “We still face many challenges, especially limited resources, the long-term effects of Agent Orange, and the complex needs of children creating a demanding environment.” Nun Nguyet Lien calls on everyone, both domestically and internationally, to share the sentiment of “giving is forever” so that Ngoc Lo Pagoda can be a reliable place to help children with disabilities and Agent Orange victims improve their quality of life. “With the involvement of Project RENEW, we have been more motivated and hopeful to realize these goals,” said Nun Nguyet Lien.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Your contributions can help provide essential resources such as therapy equipment, nutritious meals, and educational materials.
• Volunteer: Share your skills and time to support the center’s activities.
• Raise awareness: Spread the word about Ngoc Lo Pagoda and the importance of supporting children with disabilities.

With your support, Ngoc Lo Pagoda can continue to change the lives of many children. Let’s work together to build a more inclusive and compassionate world for everyone.

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