Nguyen Tan Phat

Phat’s story highlights the challenges faced by children in single-parent households. Now in 3rd grade at Vinh Dong 2 Primary School, Phat lives with his 73-year-old grandmother, Tran Thi Hai, and his father, Nguyen Thanh Tuoi. Phat’s parents divorced when he was 6, and after a difficult period living with his mother, he now resides with his father and grandmother.

The family belongs to the poor category, living in a small 30m2 house built with support from commune authorities. Their main income comes from Phat’s father’s occasional labor work, which is unstable due to his frequent joint pain. The family’s income is a meager 525,000 VND (about $22) per person per month.

Despite these hardships, Phat dreams of becoming a police officer. He wishes for a bicycle to go to school and 300,000 VND (about $13) per month to cover daily study expenses.