Why is Minh Tú a nominee?
Nominated Child Rights Hero
Thích Nu Minh Tú 84–97
Minh Tú is being nominated for her almost 40-year long struggle for orphaned children and for children who cannot grow up with their families. THE CHALLENGE People in Vietnam today are suffering from the aftereffects of several decades of war. Many lost everything they owned and were injured and fell ill because of bombs and chemical weapons. Minh Tú grew up during the war and saw how the violence resulted in widespread poverty, hunger and millions of orphaned children. Today, children become orphaned or are abandoned due to poverty, flooding, accidents, and parents being unable to take care of them. THE WORK Minh Tú supports the children who live at Duc Son Pagoda by offering a place of safety, love, play, and by providing medicine. Many get help obtaining their birth certificate and are given a name, so they can start school. They are provided with school materials, uniforms, and help to go on to higher education. Differently abled children get special support. When possible, Minh Tú helps children to be reunited with their families. Minh Tú wants all children to learn to respect one another and be themselves. RESULTS & VISION For 40 years the Duc Son Pagoda has looked after between 150 and 250 children every year. Everyone is allowed to stay until they become adults and can manage by themselves. They are seen as saplings that, if given sun and water every day, can grow into trees that offer shade and nourishment to others.
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”Children are my saplings that I give sun and water to every day, so they can grow into trees that offer shade and nourishment to others. I am over 70, but I still feel like a child. That’s probably why I love them so much,” says Minh Tú. The terrible things she saw during the Vietnam War led to her becoming a Buddhist nun and devoting her life to helping vulnerable children.
M
inh Tú grew up during a war in Vietnam that carried on for several decades. Before the war, many in North Vietnam fought for almost ten years against France. After that the country was divided into North and South Vietnam and a 20-year war began, with the US help-
ing South Vietnam. In the end, the war was won by the North Vietnamese.
Becoming a nun Every other week, Minh Tú’s family visited a Buddhist temple, or pagoda, and prayed. Minh Tú loved how peaceful it was there. All talk
outside the pagoda was of war. One day, Minh Tú told her parents that she wanted to become a nun. “No, you can’t,” said her dad. “Why not? I love being there,” said Minh Tú. “You know you have to
OUR R I GHTS!
CHANGE FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
As a changemaker, Minh Tú helps ful�il children’s rights and achieve the following Global Goals: Goal 2: Zero hunger. Goal 3: Good health and well-being. Goal 4: Quality education. Goal 10: Equal rights.