Twenty years ago, Do Duy Vi was just 15 years old, shining shoes on the streets of Hanoi, when he met a university lecturer named Michael Brosowski. Today, both their lives look entirely different.
Do Duy Vi, AKA Vi, was living on the streets, working as a shoe shiner to make ends meet with his friends when he offered to shine Michael’s shoes as he passed by. Little did they know this simple gesture would prove to be a pivotal moment in both their lives.
Michael, an expat from Australia, was working at the local university in Hanoi. Shortly after meeting and getting to know Vi and his friends that day, Michael offered the group free English lessons, to which they happily accepted.
From then on, Vi and his six friends would eagerly gather together and meet Michael for English lessons each week. But the lessons were more important than simple language classes – teaching the boys sparked something within the lecturer, and he was driven to do more. He couldn’t turn a blind eye knowing the teens were braving the elements on the streets, at risk of violence, abuse and human trafficking.
He decided to set up an organisation designed to support children living on the streets, including Vi and his friends. When he asked the seven teens what they thought the organisation should be called – they told him they wanted something that represented strength and power.
And with that, the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation was born.
From strength to strength
Through Blue Dragon, Vi and his friends were provided with a place to live, which allowed him to stop working on the streets and return to school. Vi says his life ‘totally changed’ after this.
After completing his education, Vi went on to build a successful hospitality career in Hanoi. With a strong work ethic and additional English skills under his belt, he peppered his resume with some of the finest restaurants in the city. Eventually, he returned to Blue Dragon, not as a teen in need of support but this time as someone longing to help those kids in the same situation he once was.
For over ten years, Vi headed up a team at Blue Dragon, which went out onto the streets to meet homeless children, bringing them food and offering them shelter.
He recalls, ‘I went out to find kids sleeping rough under bridges, at parks, and around the lakes. I started working with kids who have run away from their families and kids who have been sexually abused or experienced domestic violence.’ He adds, ‘I helped them to get off the street and solve the problem that got them there in the first place.’
Today, Vi’s dedication has earned him the position of co-CEO at Blue Dragon, helping to scale their impact to reach even more people across Vietnam.
Blue Dragon’s Mission
Since its inception more than 20 years ago, Blue Dragon has helped thousands of children and their families. What started as a drive to help get children and teens like Vi and his friends off the streets, morphed into a movement to help end human trafficking in its entirety right across Vietnam. Today, Blue Dragon helps more than 30,000 people across the country every year.
The team at Blue Dragon explain how they’re addressing the root causes that perpetuate human trafficking by supporting the most vulnerable communities – those living in poverty. The teams explain that scammers and traffickers approach at-risk children and teens, offering hope for a better future – often with the enticement of employment opportunities. People living on the streets or in less developed communities are more at risk of human trafficking and child labour scams, particularly in rural areas.
Vi says, ‘Many human trafficking victims come from rural areas with few local opportunities. In many of these communities, people have no choice but to leave home in search of work to provide for their loved ones. In this process, many get deceived and sold into exploitation.’
Blue Dragon also have dedicated crisis teams trained to bring home human trafficking survivors and support them and their family’s recovery. They provide everything from immediate food and shelter to legal and psychological services.
A little goes a long way
Blue Dragon is active across Vietnam, addressing issues on a dedicated location-by-location basis in provinces where human trafficking rates are high and answering calls for help anywhere they’re needed. From building houses and community infrastructure and providing microcredit to help families start farms and businesses to finding and supporting children living on the streets, they’re addressing the root of the problems that put people at risk.
Intrepid recognised the good that Blue Dragon were doing some 20 years ago and have stood by the organisation since the beginning.
Today, many of Intrepid’s Vietnam trips visit the Blue Dragon centre in Hanoi, where travellers meet some of the team and tuck into cake and other sweet treats made at a local vocational training centre where several children from Blue Dragon are currently studying.
To raise more support and awareness for the cause, Blue Dragon and Intrepid now run a yearly Blue Dragon Marathon Walk, with thousands of supporters coming together to raise funds to walk for good – from anywhere in the world.
Last year, more than 1500 people joined the walk in 17 different countries across the globe to raise over $370,000. This year, the global event will be held Sunday 8 September with the team planning to hit an ambitious fundraising target of $500,000.
Giving back, even just a little, can mean a world of difference to the people Blue Dragon support.
$150 will keep a child in school for one year.
$500 will help a family to start a livestock farm.
$1000 launches a rescue operation to bring home a person from slavery.
Want to support Blue Dragon? Donate via The Intrepid Foundation or visit bluedragon.org to learn more. Ready to join this year’s Blue Dragon Marathon Walk? Do your bit by joining the walk yourself or supporting someone participating this year.
