Meet "Little Thao"... An big inspiration to all!

Another fantastic college student who helped to lead and shape the summer program is Vo Thi Thanh Thao, also known as "Little Thao." (That's Little Thao on the left with me in the picture). But don't let her nickname fool you. Trust me, there's nothing little about Thao's talent in the arts, her care and encouragement of the children, and her dedication to the program!

Thao took on the directorial duties of organizing and putting on a play at Hoi Tu Thien for the last day of the program. She did an absolutely AMAZING job! The play and the children's performances were incredible! She is truly an inspiration to everyone. Here are some of her thoughts on her experience being part of the leadership team this summer...

Raoul Wallenberg youth summer program finally has gone to its end. To me, however, everything has just happened yesterday. It seems clear to me that the day Thao Le gave me the program plan and called for me to apply. At that time I wondered if I should join or not because there were many things I got confused. What was Raoul Wallenberg? Everything was too great for me to do. Dance? Sing? Or draw? How can I teach them while my skills are not good at? Yet, it was love to children that urged me to apply this program.

At the first day at HTT: I started to get to know with all children, and try to remember their name and hometown as much as possible. Most of them were very enthusiastic to talk with me. One of them is Loc (lucky) who is both very lovely and polite. She told me a lot of things about her family. "My hometown is Ca Mau. However, her parents and two brothers are living in Ho Chi Minh City now?" Why so? I asked. "Because my family is so poor that they have to leave my younger sister and myself here and go to HCM City for earning living". Ohh! Poor them!

How about the others? They were very active, energetic to join all activities we suggested. On the other hand, some were not willing to talk. They just focused on their knitting. Surprisingly, both girls and boys can make sweaters, children's sock, or hat professionally.

Some days later I continued to come there to help them perform a play (a fairy tale called "An Khe Tra Vang"). Although it was not an easy job, it helps me find out some ways to approach as well as calling their attention. Happily, the more we worked together, the more we laughed and got closely. At that time, I wish I could work with them like Phung and Loan.

Whenever I came, they were so exciting to welcome me. They hugged me as if they haven't seen me for a long time. How warm it was! They all looked very good and innocent. I wondered if love is so wonderful.

Each child in this orphanage has different situations. The child that made deep impression on me is Ly Dai [see picture on right] who played the role of ambitious and cruel older brother in the play An Khe Tra Vang successfully. He is about 14 years old and one of the most intelligent students in Loan's class. Both his mother and father remarriage, noone want to take care of him. When someone asks him" where is your father? : "They all have already died," he answers. Why could his parents leave him alone to find their own happiness? A simple question seems easy to answer but….

The other child that I would like to talk about is Huong, a little girl [see picture below]. She was the wife of younger brother in the play. She is so shy, timid and usually shaked her body whenever she act, which made me laugh into tears. Her situation is not like to anyone in this orphanage. Her father had a motorbike accident last year, so his legs were injured seriously. Moreover, he has been put in prison for a year because her family was too poor to compensate money to the patient. This is also the reason why her mother becomes mad. I am sure that when someone being in this situation, they can understand all feelings Huong has to suffer for a long time. If you were Huong, what would you do...?

Dahn An and Huong practicing their lines in rehearsal.

To me, I have grown up so much after this project. I have learnt many things from all people around me. They are valuable experiences that aren't written by any books. Thanks to children, my attitude to life is more optimistic. Whenever I fail in doing something before like failing in the exam… I myself felt that I am the poorest girl in the world. How embarrassed I am? Moreover I really respect enthusiasm in working of Kate, Jack, and Thao Candy, Lam and the others. I would never forget everything and everyone in this program and believe that there is always a Raoul Wallenberg in all of us.

--Little Thao

The play's incredible cast with their certificates after the play.
They were led beautifully by Loan (on the left) and Little Thao (in front).