In May 2004 in the small town of A Luoi, west of Hue, one of the trustees, Bruce Montgomery, handed over the wheelchairs, the first phase of the Trust's assistance to the people of this part of Vietnam.
A new wheelchair heads home
A Luoi - the wrong place at the wrong time
A Luoi is a mountainous district on the western side of Thua Thien Hue province. The population is distributed mainly in the A Luoi and A So valleys, and along National Road 14, which is crossed by the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Many parts of the district were sprayed with the Agent Orange during the American War. The ramifications have been very serious. Not only have forests being permanently destroyed, many families bear the burden of having handicapped children due to the effects of Agent Orange. These families face many difficulties in life and achieving self sufficiency due to antiquated farming techniques and poor animal husbandry. For families with handicapped members affected by Agent Orange, life becomes harder and harder.
Of the population of the whole district, 36 per cent are categorised as poor. Hong Kim and Hong Quang communes are among those facing the greatest difficulties.
