Because of two public holidays, I had a long weekend in Da Lat before arriving at the new Thien Chi office in Duc Linh on Monday afternoon.
Compared to the other offices, this one also has staff members who work with children with disabilities. Each child receives 1.5 hours of individual lessons several times a week. During my first two days at the office, I had the opportunity to join some of these classes, which was a very special experience. Afterwards, there was time for English lessons before we headed out for community visits in the afternoon.
During these visits, we met several families whose daily lives are shaped by unstable incomes, health problems, and the constant challenge of supporting their children.
The first family lives from a combination of small jobs and farming. The father suffers from chronic back pain and therefore can only work from home, where he takes care of the family’s cows and chickens. The cows were provided by the government, while Thien Chi supported the family with funding for their chickens and animal raising activities. They sell many of the chickens to local restaurants. The mother mainly earns money by selling bananas.
Despite their low monthly income of around 1,200,000 VND, the family strongly supports the education of their children. Their oldest son dreams of becoming an engineer. To finance his studies, the family plans to take a government student loan. Instead of university, he will likely attend college, as it is shorter and more affordable.
The second family we visited also faces health-related challenges. The father suffers from mental health problems and is unable to work regularly. 
With support from Thien Chi, the family invests in rice farming while also producing cashew nuts to earn additional income. They have two daughters, one of whom receives a student loan to continue her education.
The next family’s situation was especially difficult. Their son had a serious traffic accident and can no longer work, while several other family members also struggle with health issues. The father suffers from kidney disease and mainly takes care of the cows at home. Thien Chi supports the family with funding for their rice field so they can expand production and improve their income.
Although poor families receive health insurance from the government, it does not cover all medical expenses. The father urgently needs hospital treatment that would cost around 4,000,000 VND, but the family simply cannot afford it.
Another family of six also struggles with unstable work opportunities. Their 15-year-old son dropped out of school because he had difficulties learning. He now occasionally works on cashew farms, earning around 70,000 VND per day.
The mother sells coffee and water, earning around 100,000 VND per day during the summer season, but only 50,000–60,000 VND during the rainy season. The father can earn up to 300,000 VND per day, but he only finds work around ten days each month. To create a safer and more stable source of income, the family received a microloan from Thien Chi to invest in their rice field.
The last family consists of a grandmother and her two-year-old granddaughter. The child’s father works far away and only comes home once or twice a month. His work is unstable, as he is only hired when needed, although he can earn up to 300,000 VND per day.
The grandmother herself earns around 100,000 VND per day by selling vegetables. When she has extra time, she also produces traditional Buddhist incense sticks to earn a little additional income.
I also tried it, but it was definitely harder than it looked!
