Hearts of gold for AO victims

It was launched in Hanoi on January 24 by the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) in the presence of President Nguyen Thi Doan, former President Nguyen Thi Binh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Kien, representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, central and local agencies, soldiers, and international friends.

Speaking on the occasion, VAVA President , Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, sincerely thanked organizations, individuals, and international friends for providing both material and spiritual support to AO victims. He emphasised that the programme reflects the national tradition of mutual affection and assistance.

Sakata, a Japanese woman whose husband is a dioxin affected US soldier, has recently made a short documentary about AO victims and donated all the money she earned from the movie to the fund for AO victim. She has also established an organization in an effort to help Vietnamese AO victim.

President of the SVA Financial Group, Nguyen Minh Son, called on businesses and individuals to contribute part of their income to helping AO victims.

Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy expressed her wishes that everybody would help the victims who are suffering both physical and mental pains.