New Life Page for "Invisible" Children - Vietnam

Mrs.L.T.N.T lives with her husband and 6 kids. 8 people live in a room of 15m2. N.T earns a living by solely selling snack, and her husband is a waiter. While struggling to make a living on a daily basis, the couple has to suffer from a huge loss of income due to the COVID-19 social distancing.

N.T's first 2 kids have attended school, however, the rest has not had birth certificates. In which, M.A (8 years old) and Ng.A (6 years old), due to some birth registration-related problems, they are not able to go to school. M.A obtained his birth certificate since he was born, but as he could not enter into the household registration book and lost the original birth certificate, he cannot apply for admission to public schools. When being asked, "M.A, do you want to go to school?" M.A's eyes immediately light up, he smiled brightly and replied: "Definitely, I want to go to school, I think it would be fun."

When Ng.A turns 6, N.T worries that Ng.A would be like her brother M.A, unable to go to school like many children of her age. The couple went back and forth to find ways for their children to enter first grade. However, due to the vicious cycle of not fully understanding how to apply for the birth certificate and the hectic pace of life, at the time the family reached out to A New Life Page project, it was 1 month late for Ng.A to enroll in first grade.

Lawyers, MSD team, social workers and L.T.N.T’s family have carried out procedures, such as application for reissuance of the original birth certificate at the hospital, confirmation of temporary residency, application for reissuance (for M.A) and issuance (for children Ng.A, T.A, D.A) of birth certificate, etc.

From now on, Ng.A and M.A can officially be recognized by law, and take the very first steps to go to school. L.T.N.T is also somewhat relieved because the two youngest children in the family - T.A and D.A – have birth certificates, and subsequently receive free medical examinations and treatment (According to Decree No.146/2018/ND-CP of Vietnam for children under 6 years old).

The birth certificate is not just a piece of paper, it actually opens up new and bright pages of their life. "I’m really happy. There are not enough words to express my joy and happiness. I’m very delighted to know that the kids are finally able to go to school like many other children", said L.T.N.T.

N.K.H.N, a pretty girl with the beautiful eyes and bright smile, turns 6 this year, but for the past 6 years, she has not had her birth registered and possessed an official name. H.N's mother is a Khmer (an ethnic minority in Vietnam). She migrated from Soc Trang to Ho Chi Minh City for a better life 20 years ago, and her personal documents had been lost due to frequent moves. H.N's father is nearly 50 years old now, and his vision is getting blurry and unclear due to corneal inflammation. The main livelihood of the whole family is picking up scraps and bottles on the old tricycle.

Since H.N was born, her parents have been trying to get a birth certificate and an official name for her. Her father has taken the papers to every place that he heard of, with the belief that Muoi (H.N's nickname) would go to school and have a brighter future.

At the end of 2020 - as H.N attended a charity school in the neighborhood (without a birth certificate, she could not attend public schools), under the guidance of nuns, H.N’ parents reached out to A New Life Page project. The dream of having a birth certificate eventually came true.

With the support of the A New Life Page project, local authority and lawyer, H.N officially obtained a birth certificate with her own name. The birth certificate with the official name has opened up a bright future for "Muoi" after 6 years of being invisible. H.N shared her joy: “Later when I grow up, I want to become a lawyer to help children who did not have birth certificates like me to go to school, like aunts and uncles of the A New Life Page project has helped my family.”