A CIRCLE OF KINDNESS: DOAN THI THANH VAN

When Doan Thi Thanh Van was a university student, staying in school meant constantly balancing classes, part-time jobs, and financial pressure.

Coming from a low-income family, she had to work early to cover tuition fees and daily expenses on her own. As the only Christian in her family, she also carried emotional pressure and often felt alone during those years. Then, through the Christian community around her, Van was introduced to L.O.V.E.’s sponsorship program.

First sponsorship in 2017

Rainy season support in 2019

School bag gift in 2020

Graduation in 2023

For four years, she received monthly support that helped her continue her studies. But what stayed with her most was not only the financial assistance. On special occasions, she received gifts, letters, and encouragement from her sponsor - a pastor in the United States. During an uncertain season of life, those small acts of care reminded her that she was not walking alone.

Today, Van is working in restaurant and café operations management in Da Nang, with a stable career and a life far different from the one she once struggled through as a student.

Photos from Van’s current work and daily life

And now, years later, she has returned to L.O.V.E, not as a sponsored student, but as a sponsor herself. For Van, that is the most meaningful part of her journey: being able to pass on the same kindness that once helped her keep going.

Sometimes, support changes more than one life. Sometimes, it continues forward through the person who once needed it most.