EP #4: The story of unfortunate children who have contracted HIV

Host: Pham Thai Phuong

Guest: Le Khanh Minh – Nature’s Touch President

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064893931818

Duration: 9 minutes
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Welcome back to The Right Hand podcast. I’m your familiar host, Thái Phương. Continuing our series of topics related to supporting addiction recovery from the previous episode, today we have a special guest, Mr. Khánh Minh, the President of the Nature’s Touch Club, Season 2. Today, we will discuss the Story of Unfortunate Children Afflicted with HIV.

[Part 1: Nature’s Touch Club and Its Mission] 

First of all, I’d like to welcome Mr. Minh. I understand that you are currently leading a club called Nature’s Touch.

Q1: Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about the Nature’s Touch Club and its purpose, so that everyone can better understand this club?

  • My name is Le Khanh Minh, grade 12 at Nhan Chinh high school. Recently, I have been active in the Nature’s Touch Club. This club has been operating since 2020 and has gone through several seasons of operation. The club’s mission revolves around helping children in difficult circumstances. Each season we will do a different activity, mainly about educating necessary skills. During the last activity season, we guided the children in math thinking and debate.

Q2: Can you share with us what inspired you and your team to establish Nature’s Touch? Was there any special motivation behind it?

  • Actually, to talk about special opportunities, there is no such thing. My club focuses on helping children in highland areas, underdeveloped economic areas, or children with special circumstances in the city. We have been to Ba Vi and seen firsthand such needy situations.

[Part 2: Detoxification Camp Base 2 – Hanoi] <Social Labor and Educational Treatment Center No. 2 (Yen Bai Commune, Ba Vi District, Hanoi)>

Q4: I understand that there are not many organizations providing support for children with HIV. Can you tell us which organization you chose to work with when you first started providing support?

  • During our year of operation, we went to the Education and Labor Treatment Center No. 2 in Yen Bai, Ba Vi.

Q5: Could you provide more details about this organization? How many young children with HIV are being cared for there? How do these children spend their time? Do they attend school?

  • At the time we implemented the project, this Center had 68 children, at peak it could reach more than 80 children. Regarding the living conditions of the children, it is difficult to comment, but also mixed with many joys and memories. The area is built like a village, with many amenities, from living areas, sports, schools, etc. Compared to city children, it is not as good, but the children there also have facilities to develop.

Q6: After being in contact with these young children with HIV, have you noticed any specific challenges they face in terms of social integration?

  • Not really, I noticed that the kids there are all very sociable, happy and passionate about studying. Besides, there are also some children who are quite shy and afraid to get acquainted with strangers.

Q7: How does discrimination and stigmatization affect the lives of children with HIV? In other words, do you see any psychological barriers that these children face when interacting with strangers?

  • To make it easiest to see, these children have less freedom than their healthy peers. They were raised in a closed environment, I think this somehow affected their ability to communicate with people outside the social circle they knew. Some children also have certain complexes.

[Part 3: Helping Children with HIV] 

Q8: What has Nature’s Touch done to support children with HIV?

  • Our job and mission is to help them to the best of our ability. We have organized debate classes on math, and in previous years also organized plays to help students access new educational methods. In the second aspect, in terms of communication, we run a fanpage to let more people know and send them more support.

Q9: In your opinion, is there still unwarranted discrimination against these children within the community? Because, as I understand, HIV can be transmitted, and this might make people hesitant to interact with children with HIV.

  • Discrimination comes from each person’s feelings, I think they all have their own reasons and we should not judge them. That does exist, but if possible, I hope people will open up more. The way HIV is transmitted is not as many people are afraid of, it is transmitted through sexual activity, transmitted from mother to child or transmitted through blood. This is also an incorrect belief of many people.

Q10: Based on your experiences working closely with children with HIV, is there a message you would like to convey to the general public?

  • First of all, I think everyone should prepare themselves with complete knowledge about HIV as well as many other diseases. The easiest way is to search for information on the internet. Next, I think they should meet and help those children, thereby understanding each other better.

[Part 5: Contributing to Change] 

Q11: During the course of your work with Nature’s Touch, how have you managed to raise the necessary funds to support children with HIV?

  • We often sell homemade cakes to raise funds and receive support from sponsors through Nature’s Touch fanpage.

Q12: In terms of fundraising and community outreach by the club, have you received substantial support from the community? Have you encountered any difficulties in seeking support from the community?

  • People were very enthusiastic in their support, partly because the cakes made by the club’s friends were also very delicious. There are not many difficulties, I just find it a bit unfortunate because the scope of activities and coverage of activities are still limited.

Q13: How have you overcome these challenges?

  • Perhaps we would run a fanpage soon and post more, and would also expand our sales area further.

Q14: Does Nature’s Touch have any plans for the near future?

  • This will have to rely on the next generations of the club. I won’t say anything in advance, but I believe they will have more and more creative and unique activities and ideas.

[Part 6: Conclusion] 

The insights you’ve shared today, Mr. Minh, have likely provided our radio listeners with valuable new knowledge and, perhaps, have changed their perspectives on children with HIV. In reality, these children are also victims, involuntarily living with an illness no one wishes for, with compromised immune systems and the consequences for their health, along with the experience of isolation and discrimination from many others. These children also hope for a normal life, to have loving parents, attend school, and pursue their passions. However, fate has made their journey challenging. Let’s hope for a better future for these children.

Q15: Before we conclude our conversation, is there anything else you’d like to share with our radio listeners today?

  • As mentioned above, I hope that after today’s conversation, the audience will have a more open and multidimensional view of children with HIV/AIDS. The children are very pitiful and also extremely adorable. Everyone can send help to the children through the Nature’s Touch fanpage and accompany them in the club’s next projects.

Thank you, Mr. Minh, for joining us in today’s podcast and sharing the story of helping children with HIV integrate into society. We wish Nature’s Touch success in its mission and goals. Goodbye, and we’ll see you in the upcoming podcast episodes.