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Not As You Think is a non-governmental project started in July 2011
Beginning from the idea of six Vietnamese participants
who took part in South East Asian Youth Leadership Program 2010
The program is funded by the U.S Embassy
and hosted by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies Northern Illinois University.
The primary object will be children with disabilities
or from disadvantaged family background who have music talents
The project also aims to reach out the general public
with a hope to change the view of people to disabled children
and a wish that they would receive more support from the society
This project's target is to support children
who are studying at the Mercy Center of Performing Art
Mom Tuong Vi, could you tell us why you established the Center?
I set up the center in 1992
At that time, I had served in the army for 40 years
I was at the age of retirement then
Before that, I had thought of doing something meaningful when retiring
Once, some children hid outside listening to me practice singing
I was so moved to find them standing there
The children said to me "Mom Tuong Vi, we are orphans in the SOS orphanage
We want you to sing for us
and hope you teach us to sing so that we can forget our sadness"
That is why I gathered them and established the Mercy Center for Performing Arts
Located at a small lane in Cau Giay District, Ha Noi
the Mercy Center of Performing Arts, the house of People's Artist Tuong Vi,
is the place where many students graduated over 19 years
And many artists have become famous from here.
Mom Tuong Vi, could you tell us your goals when you set up the Center?
My purpose is to bring love to disadvantaged children
and contribute to helping them overcome poverty
One of the goals of Vietnam Red Cross
is to use music to lighten the souls of the disadvantaged children
Our center has followed this criterion until now
By training performing arts, the learners at the center can now work for a living
And could you tell us the difficulty that you have faced during 19 years running the center?
The difficulty is that the center has not been assisted by the government
for the past 19 years in operation
The Vietnam Red Cross just allowed us to register a seal to prove our legal status
We have no financial aid from the authorities
Therefore, over nearly two decades,
I have been thinking to find ways so as to raise funds
to maintain and develope the Center
So what have you achieved for 19 years?
Since establishment, the center has trained 45 learners who have been admitted to Musical Institutes
such as Vietnam National Musical Institute
Hanoi Musical Institute and Hue Musical Institute
2 learners learned in Ho Chi Minh Musical Institute
Some excellent learners have grown up
such as Singer Ha Chuong, Zitherist *** Diem, A Viet Nin
Following the example of the previous generation
The new kids are practising hard at the Center every week
with a hope to expose their talent to contribute to the society
And to prove that they are disabled but they are still helpful
Hi everyone. My name is A Viet Nin
I am now 23 years old
I used to live in A Luoi District, Hue
My father served in the army and I was affected with Agent Orange from him
Therefore, at the age of 23, I am just as tall as kids in grade 2 or 3
Since I joined this center, I have been encouraged by "Mom Vi" and every member here
I realize that life is so great and there are many things to discover
Last summer, the U.S Embassy and 6 SEAYLP-ers
organized a trip to Kim Boi, Hoa Binh for kids from the Center.
They had a lot of fun
And the trip has brought everyone closer.
In observance of celebrate the Viet Nam's National Day and the U.S's Labour Day
A music gala called "The Melody of Heart" will be held on September 3rd
with performances by children from the Center and volunteers who are attending the project
Also, we will organize craft stalls to exhibit and sell products made by disabled people from the Center
Although they have dreams that so easy for ordinary people to realize
But they are not as you think!
They overcome their sadness and keep singing with passion and willingness to contribute
And we, the volunteers of this project,
would like to send you a message via a famous song of Michael Jackson