A poor widow in Binh Phuoc Province is struggling to earn a living and raise her five small children, her husband having died nearly two years ago.

Le and her children live on a rubber plantation

Le Thi Le and her children live in a makeshift house on a rubber plantation in Hamlet 11, Long Ha Commune. Their home is so substandard that it does not keep out the rain, making it difficult to find a dry place for the children to sleep on rainy nights.

The family's situation deteriorated after her husband died just a few months after the birth of their fifth child. She tried all means to survive, including using a 2,000-square metre field as collateral for a loan. Now the debt is in default and she owes VND300 million (USD14,157) while the interest continues to mount.

Le's income is provided by whatever money she can earn as a temporary hired laborer, but she does not bring in enough to even cover daily living expenses.

"I'm considering the possibility of making my oldest child stay home from school to take care of the younger children so I have more time to work," she said. "But that would be a hard decision."

Children may be deprived of an education

Study has always been a challenge to the family, and Le had to struggle to find used books for her children, sending them to school in second-hand clothes.

The area where they live is no help. Having been robbed several times, Le worries for her children's safety. And, although her friends have urged her to move to a safer neighborhood, this seems an impossibility for them since the only land she owns has already been put up as collateral.

Truong Ba Phuong, Vice Chairman of Long Ha communal People’s Committee, urged anybody who is capable of sending financial aid to do so. "Le's family has faced difficulties almost impossible to surmount after the death of her husband."

To help Le, please make donation though:

1. Code 1106: Le Thi Le, Hamlet 11, Long Ha Commune, Bu Gia Map District, Binh Phuoc Province

Mobile phone: 01665.262.689

2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
Tel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490
Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vn
 
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM  – Thanh Cong Branch
 
* US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 137 195 6482
SWIFT Code: BFTVVNVX
With Bank:  THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM
 
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch
 
* US Dollar Account information at MB Bank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 0721100357002
SWIFT Code: MSCBVNVX
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - MCSB ( No.3, Lieu Giai str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam)
 
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