Healing and thriving

In my early days of working for Blue Dragon, I was looking after some kids in the Drop-in center. Most of them were homeless or lived in slum areas. Many lived in really toxic family situations. Some had parents in prison, while others had run away from home because of abusive parents.

Working at the Drop-in center with these kids was challenging. Many needed special attention, and some needed to heal from their past experiences.

I remember a boy named Huy who came to Blue Dragon when he was about 12 years old, a tiny and quiet kid. It was hard to tell what he had been through. We had to pay a lot of attention to him because he didn't know how to interact with other kids. He saw everyone as a threat.?

Every 10-15 minutes, he would get into a fight with others if a social worker wasn't nearby to intervene. After each fight, we had to separate Huy from the others and bring him to the staff office. There, he would quietly sit down and play a game next to a social worker whom he felt safe with. But we knew we couldn't continue like this.

An idea came up because some of the social workers were going to a gym which happened to be right near Huy's home. I often went to that gym myself, so we invited Huy to join us. Initially, he came to the gym to feel safe and receive special attention, but later, the gym became his passion, a way to release his anger and control his emotions. He became stronger, healthier, and happier.?

After a few years, Huy found his passion as a DJ and started a career doing what he loved. Fighting was no longer a part of his daily life. In fact, today, he is married and has a stable business as a DJ. Nobody would imagine that he was once a troubled child. But his time at the gym, releasing his stress and developing a passion, was the key to him finding a stable life.

Since Blue Dragon started, sports have always been an important part of the organisation. When I was a street kid and heard about the Sunday football game, I walked several kilometers to get to the stadium. It was a great way to connect with other street kids and meet some friendly people. Over the years we've played almost 4000 football games!

Why are sports so important?

When I was working on the street as a child, shining shoes to support my family, I was beaten up and bullied quite often. Being weak was not an option. When I met Blue Dragon, I had a chance to go back to school and earn money. I realized that being strong was crucial. Otherwise, my life would be miserable. I spent most of my money on going to the gym and eating. Gradually, I became stronger, more confident, and, of course, looking better. It boosted my confidence, self-esteem, courage and motivation to face life's challenges.

Not every child loves to play football or go to the gym, and not many have the motivation to start exercising. Many are struggling with depression and other issues. It's important not to force anyone to join or have high expectations. Building a safe and trusting relationship is the key component to start with, along with being creative in choosing suitable activities for individuals at different times.

At Blue Dragon, we have football games; some join the running club; and others prefer hip hop dancing. Some love skateboarding and basketball. They join sports because it lets them join with their peer group, feel connected, and they get value from being in the team.

Without these types of activities where do these children go and do? Many would end up living on the streets, spending time playing internet games, using drugs or being tricked into committing crime. It's so important for Blue Dragon to ensure that? we create a community where children are safe, free to learn, play and to be loved. Sports are vital to that.

In October, nearly 50 kids and Blue Dragon staff joined the Vietnam Jungle Marathon organised by Vietnam Trail Series by Topas . Thanks to many weeks of training, the kids did really well. All of them finished the 10km race, and two stood on the podium, taking first and third place in the under-16 category. These kids, who have lived on the street to survive, are now thriving.

One of those children was Nhan, a 15-year-old girl. After the race she shared: “The trail was very difficult. Sometimes I felt like my legs were falling off. But the encouragement from everyone there kept me motivated.

“I know success doesn’t come without challenges, and the path to it isn’t smooth. From this, I want to work even harder at school and work. I know that only through my own effort can I overcome my circumstances, and be free from poverty."

As well as training for jungle and mountain marathons, Blue Dragon's hip-hop group is preparing for their performance at the AusCham Vietnam ball fundraising event on 18th November, and another hip-hop group is going to Singapore in November for a school performance.

Sports have always played a vital role at Blue Dragon, ensuring children have a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy lifestyle. In my own life, sport was a key part of getting me off the street and into a career. Now I use sport as a tool to help other kids change their lives, just as it changed mine.