A new schoolbag, a new hope: Thao Seo Ha’s story of recovery after Typhoon Yagi
After losing his home and school supplies to a devastating landslide, 13-year-old Thao Seo Ha finds hope inside a new UNICEF schoolbag.
- English
- Tiếng Việt
At just 13 years old, Thao Seo Ha already faced more challenges than most children his age. As a student at Ban Pho Primary School for ethnic minorities in the Lao Cai province, his focus should be on learning and spending time with his friends. But when the typhoon struck his village, everything changed in a matter of hours.
“It was the morning of the typhoon, and I was getting ready for school,” Ha recalls. “My uncle told me to stay at his home, and after we had lunch, I went to check on my house.”
What he discovered was devastating.
“The typhoon caused a landslide, and when I went back home later that day, I saw my house had collapsed completely. All my belongings, my textbooks and my clothes were lost,” he says. “I couldn't go to school for a week.”
Ha’s voice softens as he recounts the impact the typhoon had on his life. His family now lives with his uncle, as they have no home to return to. Despite the destruction of his home and belongings, what he missed most was his school.
“I missed my schoolmates and my teachers so much,” he says, his eyes reflecting both the sorrow of loss and the hope for what lies ahead. “I wished I could be back with them.”
Today, Ha’s face lights up with a smile. He holds tightly onto his brand-new schoolbag and textbooks, which he received as part of UNICEF’s emergency response in support of children affected by the disaster. Inside the schoolbag there are fresh notebooks, pens and other essential school supplies.
As families in the Lao Cai province are some of the most vulnerable in Viet Nam, many cannot afford replacing the school supplies their children lost in the devastating landslides and floods caused by Typhoon Yagi. This is where the support becomes crucial.
“I like this new schoolbag very much,” Ha says, hinting at a hope that now, the prospects for his education look brighter.
He dreams of returning to his old home. In the meantime, he remains focused on what matters most to him: his education and the community that makes him feel safe and supported.
Despite the challenges, Ha’s resilience shines through. With his new school supplies in hand, he’s ready to rebuild his life, one lesson at a time.
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The textbooks were generously supported by the Government of Norway.
