VietNamNet Bridge – He is one of million victims of Agent Orange (AO) in Vietnam. Many people admire him for his great efforts to overcome disability to live and live very helpful.
Teacher Nguyen Ngoc Phuong is the symbol of will, braveness and extraordinary vitality in the central province of Quang Nam, the fire land during the Vietnam War.

Over 30 years ago, veteran Nguyen Tan Ngoc and his wife returned home in Que An commune, Que Son district, Quang Nam province after the fierce war. The couple did not know that they had been infected with AO sprayed by the US. In peace, they rebuilt their home and had children. But, all of their children are disabled. At that time, they knew the terrible fact.

At the age of six, his first son, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, wanted to go to school like other kids. Mr. Ngoc carried him on his back to walk for more than ten kilometers, through the forest, to school. They went to school together that way for three years.
Phuong could not attend school after that because he was too weak and his father was weak, too, to carry his son on his back and walk for over ten kilometers. But Phuong did not stop studying. He borrowed books from friends in his village to study himself at home.

When he was 16, Phuong decided to leave his village to Tam Ky town to learn a trade.

Admiring the disabled boy who was very eager for studies, many people helped him. Phuong learned gas pumping and repairing watches. After a short period of time, he became a skilled worker. He returned home and began to earn his living with that job.

Saving some money from the job, Phuong decided to leave home once again, to HCM City this time. In 1999, he began learning motorbike and electric ware repair.

After five years in Saigon, Phuong moved to the central city of Da Nang to set up his business. Moreover, Da Nang is near his home so it is more convenient for him to take care of his parents and his brothers and sisters, who are also AO victims.

In early 2006, Phuong’s motorbike and electric repair workshop opened in Hoa Khanh district, Da Nang city. Working hard, with high skills, his workshop has attracted many customers. The story about him spread in the city as a fairy tale in the real life.

In 2008, a center for AO and disadvantaged children in Da Nang invited Phuong to teach children in the centre his trade. He became the first AO teacher at this centre.

Those who visit the Cent for rAO and disadvantaged children at 119, Nguyen Nhu Hang road, Lien Chieu district, Da Nang will be impressed by teacher Nguyen Ngoc Phuong.

At the age of 31, Phuong looks like a 4-5 year-old boy. He is only 0.9m tall and 20kg in weight. He not only teaches his trade, but also reading and writing to kids at the center.

“Most of them are disabled because of AO so teachers must be very patient. I’m in the same plight with them so I understand very well,” Phuong says.

Besides teaching disabled kids, Phuong opened a vocational training centre for AO children, named Phuong Tin in early 2009. The centre has hundreds of AO children who learn electric ware repair. By his own experience, Phuong teaches them in a different and very effective method.
“Thanks to teacher Phuong, I can be confident to live,” says Nguyen Nguyen Dung, an AO trainee at Phuong Tin center.

In 2008, Phuong was one of three Vietnamese AO victims participated in the Peace Boat program, where he met with over 100 Japanese who survived after the nuclear explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan 63 years ago.

Phuong’s younger sister, Nguyen Thi Hieu, is another example of iron will. Suffering similar disability like her brother, Hieu has exerted great effort to study to get a high school diploma. She now manages an Internet shop, which is 5km from her home.

Phuong and his students are AO victims who have overcome the shadow of AO to prove their extraordinary vitality.

Vu Trung