Khang, chair of the board of management of Marie Curie School in Hanoi, said after deciding to adopt the orphans, in early October a group of school officers came to the village to learn about the situation and compile a list of 22 children who needed support. 

The youngest child is 3 years old, while the oldest is 17. Khang has confirmed that he will provide financial support to the 22 children until they turn 18 years old. VND3 million will be remitted to every child each month to cover their basic needs and fund their studies.

It is estimated that Khang will spend VND5.6 billion, not including additional expenses. Khang has promised to give additional money if necessary.

It is expected that the project will finish in 2039, when the youngest child turns 18 years old, and the teacher will be 90.

Calling himself the "parental grandpa" of the 22 children, Khang said he now "clings to life and fears death". He hopes to live at least 15 more years to see all the 22 children grow up. However, even if he passes away before that time, his family and the Marie Curie school will take responsibility to feed the children.

“The children will be well fed and raised to have a good education. I am capable of taking care of the children until they all grow up,” Khang said.

Explaining the decision, Khang said he hopes he can ‘make up’ for the children’s lack of family affection, so their future will be bright.

Khang began giving support to children in the flood-stricken village before the school’s staff finished compiling the list of all the 22 orphaned children.

Realizing that Nguyen Van Hanh, a 12th grader at Bao Yen High School, lost his mother and father during the flood, and that Hanh did not want to continue going to school and wanted to work, Khang called Hanh and adopted him as a grandson.

Khang promised to give VND3 million a month to Hanh and additional money if necessary. He asked the boy’s teacher to buy a mobile phone for Hanh so that Hanh and he could communicate regularly. Hanh has promised to study diligently and finish high school.

Thuy Nga