common roof of abandoned children
Regarding Hoang Thanh commune, Thanh Hoa province, if you ask about Hoi Long pagoda, everyone knows. This is not only a familiar spiritual address but also a place to nurture more than 50 orphans. The person directly caring for the children is monk Thich Dam Ngoan, abbot of Hoi Long Pagoda.
According to monk Thich Dam Ngoan, Hoi Long Pagoda has existed for a long time. Over time, the pagoda deteriorated, leaving only the old foundation and the three-door gate. In 2008, when he was appointed as the abbot, the monk, the Buddha and the people joined hands to repair it.
Since the pagoda was rebuilt, in addition to his monastic period, monks and teachers have regularly gone to the high mountains of the province to do charity work, helping those in difficult circumstances, especially children in remote areas.
"Maybe from the fate of going to charity, many families who have children but cannot raise them have brought their children to the pagoda to raise them," monk Ngoan shared.
Previously, the pagoda raised the children in a "fateful" manner. However, to ensure the rights of children, in 2019, the Hoi Long Pagoda Social Charity Center was established, becoming a real home for children without shelter.
From 2019 to now, the pagoda has raised more than 50 children. Some students have finished their studies, have stable jobs and are married. Currently, there are 10 children studying at university and about 30 others being cared for at the pagoda.
"Each child who comes to the pagoda carries a sad story, but they all have the same adversity: being abandoned by their family at the pagoda gate. There are cases where he did not leave any information, there are cases where he only left a piece of paper with a few lines to send to the monk for help..., monk Ngoan said.
Most of the children were sent to the pagoda not necessarily because of their difficult family situation, but mainly because they were children of young people who had made mistakes and were afraid of being discovered by their families, so they secretly gave birth and left it in the Buddha's hand with the hope that their children would be raised.
Most recently, 2 months ago, the pagoda discovered a basket placed in front of the gate, inside which was a boy named B.P. and the piece of paper reads: "I am the grandmother of the child, and due to difficult circumstances, I asked the temple to raise the child. When conditions are right, the family will come to ask for it, said monk Ngoan.
According to monk Ngoan, from 2019 to now, there have been 4 cases where relatives have returned to claim their children and grandchildren.
The journey to become a "mother"
Teacher Thich Dam Ngoan said that taking care of a child is already difficult, taking care of dozens of children is many times more difficult. Many nights, when the children cry, the monk has to wake up to hug andback. In the early days, monks also sluggishly mixed milk, changed diapers, and let their children sleep. Gradually, the monk became a true "mother", clearly remembering each habit and preference of each child. As the number of children increased, the pagoda had to ask for more help.
Children here are not only physically nurtured but also fully educated. Currently, my health is no longer stable, I have to go to the hospital regularly, but I still try to take good care of my children.
The pagoda is also lucky that the journey of raising children is no longer alone. Many benefactors have come and joined hands to help. Those kind hearts are a great source of encouragement for me to continue my journey to nurture the dreams of unfortunate children, monk Ngoan shared.
On August 15, speaking with a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the People's Committee of Hoang Thanh Commune, Thanh Hoa Province, said that adopting many orphans and surrogate children at Hoi Long Pagoda is a very humane and meaningful act, becoming a place to nurture unfortunate children.
Many years ago, the Hoi Long Pagoda Social Charity Center was licensed to be established. Up to now, this center has been operating very well and is a destination for philanthropists across the country, to join hands to contribute and support the pagoda in caring for and nurturing dozens of orphans and weak children" - a representative of the People's Committee of Hoang Thanh commune informed.
