Twenty years in the past, Do Duy Vi was simply 15 years outdated, shining footwear on the streets of Hanoi, when he met a college lecturer named Michael Brosowski. At present, each their lives look completely completely different.
Do Duy Vi, AKA Vi, was dwelling on the streets, working as a shoe shiner to make ends meet together with his associates when he supplied to shine Michael’s footwear as he handed by. Little did they know this easy gesture would show to be a pivotal second in each their lives.
Michael, an expat from Australia, was working on the native college in Hanoi. Shortly after assembly and attending to know Vi and his associates that day, Michael supplied the group free English classes, to which they fortunately accepted.
From then on, Vi and his six associates would eagerly collect collectively and meet Michael for English classes every week. However the classes had been extra vital than easy language courses – instructing the boys sparked one thing throughout the lecturer, and he was pushed to do extra. He couldn’t flip a blind eye realizing the teenagers had been braving the weather on the streets, prone to violence, abuse and human trafficking.
He determined to arrange an organisation designed to assist kids dwelling on the streets, together with Vi and his associates. When he requested the seven teenagers what they thought the organisation must be referred to as – they advised him they needed one thing that represented power and energy.
And with that, the Blue Dragon Youngsters’s Basis was born.
From power to power
Via Blue Dragon, Vi and his associates had been supplied with a spot to stay, which allowed him to cease engaged on the streets and return to highschool. Vi says his life ‘completely modified’ after this.
After finishing his schooling, Vi went on to construct a profitable hospitality profession in Hanoi. With a robust work ethic and extra English expertise underneath his belt, he peppered his resume with a number of the most interesting eating places within the metropolis. Ultimately, he returned to Blue Dragon, not as a teen in want of assist however this time as somebody longing to assist these children in the identical scenario he as soon as was.
For over ten years, Vi headed up a group at Blue Dragon, which went out onto the streets to fulfill homeless kids, bringing them meals and providing them shelter.
He remembers, ‘I went out to seek out children sleeping tough underneath bridges, at parks, and across the lakes. I began working with children who’ve run away from their households and youngsters who’ve been sexually abused or skilled home violence.’ He provides, ‘I helped them to get off the road and remedy the issue that bought them there within the first place.’
At present, Vi’s dedication has earned him the place of co-CEO at Blue Dragon, serving to to scale their impression to succeed in much more individuals throughout Vietnam.
Blue Dragon’s Mission
Since its inception greater than 20 years in the past, Blue Dragon has helped 1000’s of youngsters and their households. What began as a drive to assist get kids and teenagers like Vi and his associates off the streets, morphed right into a motion to assist finish human trafficking in its entirety proper throughout Vietnam. At present, Blue Dragon helps greater than 30,000 individuals throughout the nation yearly.
The group at Blue Dragon clarify how they’re addressing the basis causes that perpetuate human trafficking by supporting probably the most susceptible communities – these dwelling in poverty. The groups clarify that scammers and traffickers method at-risk kids and teenagers, providing hope for a greater future – typically with the enticement of employment alternatives. Individuals dwelling on the streets or in much less developed communities are extra prone to human trafficking and baby labour scams, notably in rural areas.
Vi says, ‘Many human trafficking victims come from rural areas with few native alternatives. In lots of of those communities, individuals don’t have any selection however to go away dwelling in quest of work to offer for his or her family members. On this course of, many get deceived and bought into exploitation.’
Blue Dragon even have devoted disaster groups educated to convey dwelling human trafficking survivors and assist them and their household’s restoration. They supply the whole lot from speedy meals and shelter to authorized and psychological companies.
Slightly goes a great distance
Blue Dragon is energetic throughout Vietnam, addressing points on a devoted location-by-location foundation in provinces the place human trafficking charges are excessive and answering requires assist anyplace they’re wanted. From constructing homes and neighborhood infrastructure and offering microcredit to assist households begin farms and companies to discovering and supporting kids dwelling on the streets, they’re addressing the basis of the issues that put individuals in danger.
Intrepid recognised the nice that Blue Dragon had been performing some 20 years in the past and have stood by the organisation because the starting.
At present, a lot of Intrepid’s Vietnam journeys go to the Blue Dragon centre in Hanoi, the place travellers meet a number of the group and tuck into cake and different candy treats made at a neighborhood vocational coaching centre the place a number of kids from Blue Dragon are at the moment finding out.
To lift extra assist and consciousness for the trigger, Blue Dragon and Intrepid now run a yearly Blue Dragon Marathon Stroll, with 1000’s of supporters coming collectively to boost funds to stroll for good – from anyplace on the earth.
Final 12 months, greater than 1500 individuals joined the stroll in 17 completely different international locations throughout the globe to boost over $370,000. This 12 months, the worldwide occasion shall be held Sunday 8 September with the group planning to hit an formidable fundraising goal of $500,000.
Giving again, even just a bit, can imply a world of distinction to the individuals Blue Dragon assist.
$150 will preserve a toddler at school for one 12 months.
$500 will assist a household to start out a livestock farm.
$1000 launches a rescue operation to convey dwelling an individual from slavery.
Wish to assist Blue Dragon? Donate through The Intrepid Basis or go to bluedragon.org to study extra. Prepared to affix this 12 months’s Blue Dragon Marathon Stroll? Do your bit by becoming a member of the stroll your self or supporting somebody collaborating this 12 months.
