Today, with the help of in country partners, (and acting translators,) Thongchanh and Na who have been doing a phenomenal job assisting us, we interviewed some of the children about what they want to be when they grow up. Apart from one or two responses specific to Laos, (like Nat, age 5, who said, "the person who steams the rice"), we could have been anywhere. The children all want to be doctors (Nita, age 4, "So I can help people"), teachers, or policemen (Boy, age 5, "So I can arrest robbers"). They love drawing, singing and studying.

The differences became apparent when we interviewed parents, such as Yeng Har and Chong Yar in Houay Khiling, who told us the family eats rice and veggies in the rainy season but only rice and chili sauce in the dry season. Yeng looks for bamboo shoots when food is scarce and Chong tries to trap birds or field rats with a cross bow or woven trap, though this often happens only once a month. Hunting or farming is difficult as the area is littered with UXO’s (unexploded bombs from the ‘Secret War,’ 1968-70). When asked what his dream job was for his children, Mr. Yar couldn’t answer at first, and then after a few minutes he looked up and said "Not a farmer."

The enthusiasm for our vitamin program, part of Thrive to Five, is high. Many moms, dads and teachers have shown up for our trainings. Cami has been doing a terrific job explaining how to store the vitamins, how to keep them out of the children’s reach, and describing why they should only be taken once a day. In addition, she outlined all the benefits; how they will help the children to not get sick and to become healthier and do better in school. The interest in health is high, and each time we asked for questions at the end of a training session a few hands went up right away. Mr. Sone, age 35, from Lathsene Village asked, "Apart from vitamins, what can I do for my daughter so she can get the best out of life?" Mai, age 26, from Dindam Village close to the Vietnam border, asked "How do vitamins work? Where do they come from? Can they cause long-term harm?

Parents and teachers have already seen the changes the vitamins are making in their children and students. Mai has a 4-year old son and is pregnant with her 2nd baby, due in April. Her son used to get sick a lot, she says, but is now much healthier, has more energy and is able to play with his friends. He also has a much greater attention span in school, she reports. These transformations are not surprising as the malnutrition level in these villages is considerable and therefore nutritional support can yield dramatic changes.

Khamsavanh, age 27, a teacher at Lathngorn Preschool reports that her students are healthier since taking the vitamins. They don’t get sick as often, and she noted, she sees a great improvement in their learning ability and focus in class. Khamsavanh hopes her son will become a doctor so that he can help people, including her own family who cannot afford medical help, to not get sick.

Many of the people we’ve met have to walk twenty minutes or more twice a day to get water and firewood. Their homes are simple 10’x10’ rooms, with an open fire and mud or wood floors (the Hmong people build their homes on stilts raised up about 7’). Their diets are meager and in many ways their circumstance are untenable. But their children are happy. And they share the same dreams for their children; to be healthy and to have a chance at a better life.

Vitamin Angels is running very low on children’s multivitamins and may not be able to maintain this project through 2011. Please watch our call for multivitamins video and contact us if you can help!