The Art exchange program “lighting the hope”

On the occasion of the day as Vietnam Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, the art exchange program “Lighting the hope” took place at the Opera house at 9 am of August 8th 2009 and also was broadcasted lively on VTV1 channel of Vietnam Television.

The program was co-organized by the Vietnam Friendship Village, the Music, Recreative and Informative Channel of Voice of Vietnam (VOV3) and Ha Thanh Joint – Stock Company for Consulting, education, Culture and Media

The program very honored to welcome many distinguished guests:

- Mrs Ha Thi Lien – member of Standing Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front.

- Journalist Hoang Minh Nguyet – Deputy General Director of Voice of Vietnam.

- Mr. Lieutenant General Phung Khac Dang – Vice president of Veterans Association of Vietnam.

- Mr. Professor Tran Xuan Thu, Vice president and concurrently Secretary General of Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

The Program also honored to welcome delegates representing various agencies, central ministries, departments and branches, localities, enterprises in the State and especially the veterans, children of former war soldiers exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin who are been nursing, fostering and learning at the Vietnam Friendship Village.

After opening speeches by Mr.Dang Vu Dung, director of the Vietnam Friendship Village and co – heads of organization committee, the art exchange program of the artists, singers and children singers, documentary film of the harmful effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin, documentary film of the Vietnam Friendship Villagewere performed. Especially the exchange of two distinguished guests on the stage that was Mr. Lieutenant General Phung Khac Dang – Vice president of Veterans Association of Vietnam and Professor Tran Xuan Thu, Vice president and concurrently Secretary General of Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. They provided viewers and spectators watching television of the whole country with the information on Agent Orange and its harmful effects to humans and the environment and overviewed the evolutions and link of the struggle requiring the U.S. chemical companies (which provided the dioxin substance for the U.S. military to spray over the southern Vietnam battlefield) to pay the compensation to the victims of Agent Orange. They also mentioned the special care to the victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin from the Party, the State and all the society in general and Veterans Association of Vietnam in particular. The Agent Orange pain has moved the hearts and awakens the conscience of the peace – loved people in the world. The struggle for justice for the victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin will last the long time, but we believe the justice will eventually win.

Followed by the exchange with two pupils in the audience area: Chung Thi Thanh Binh (embroidery class) and Dang the Lich (studying grade 10 in the high school) are being fostered at the Vietnam Friendship Village. They are disabled because of legacy of Agent Orange from their fathers and grandfathers who took part in the war in the southern Vietnam. These are the typical examples and also efforts in practice and learning. Their desire is to be continued to stay at the Vietnam Friendship Village and want the FriendshipVillage creates the good condition which enables them to recover their families’s difficulties as well as themselves. The child Binh always strives for becoming the embroidery teacher to instruct the disabled children who have the same plight; the child Lich would like to pass the examination to a certain university and become the useful person for the society.

Finally being the moment to exchange with Mr. Thanh, representative for Vietnamese Commercial Bank – one organization has many social and charity activities supporting the victims of Agent Orange.

At the art exchange program, all people witnessed and recorded the charitable and golden hearts of organizations and individuals as follow:

- The organization committee of the art exchange program “lighting the hope” on the occasion of the day as victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (10/8/2009).

- Vietnam Mineral and Coal Corporation

- Investment Joint – Stock Enterprise

- Vietnam Gold Dragon Company

- Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation

- Branch Hanoi 2 belonging to General Company of Post and

Telecommunications of Army.

- Ha Thanh Joint – Stock Company for Consulting, Education, Culture and Media…..

They already gave gifts to the Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin being taken care at the Vietnam Friendship Village.

The assistance of the organizations and individuals mentioned above has shown the noble tradition and charitable kindness of our Vietnamese people and they together light up the fire of mutual affection and mutual love to light the hope of tomorrow for the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin

LHN