The Blue Dragon Tết Awards

More than fun

Blue Dragon kids rapped, sang and danced their way into a bright new lunar year.

Today, people in Vietnam are celebrating the Tết holiday. Tết marks the beginning of the lunar year with fresh starts, reunions and family gatherings.

And at Blue Dragon, it’s a chance for kids who have gone through hardship to boost their confidence and skills in our annual Tết Awards show. With awards, fun performances from Blue Dragon kids and speeches from people who have gone on to thrive with our support, it was a joyous night of hope and inspiration.

Khoa, a Blue Dragon social worker who is heavily involved with planning the event, says: “The Tết Awards are more than just a fun night; they are a powerful tool for fostering the development of children at Blue Dragon. The event builds their confidence, recognizes their achievements, and empowers them to become leaders.”

Rapping into the Year of the Snake.

Self-expression 

One way that the event helps kids to build confidence is by being a platform for them to express themselves. 

Among the many highlights at this year’s event, one particularly poignant moment came when a group of deaf children put on a dramatic performance about the importance of family. 

The play, which the children wrote especially for the show, centred around an elderly couple who didn’t think that they would get to see their children and grandchildren at Tết this year. But when the day came, their children surprised them by showing up at their home unannounced. They had a wonderful time sharing gifts, food and stories before returning to their daily lives with renewed hope and energy for the beginning of the year.

The scale of effort put in by the kids – from the props, to the script and the costume – was a testament to the power of self-expression.

“It was a really moving performance,” shares Minh, who was attending her third Tết Awards. “It made me think about the importance of family – I was so impressed with how they got their message across even though the characters didn’t speak.”

The performance involved an elderly couple who got to spend Ten with their family.

Recognition

“For many of the children, it’s the first time they’ve ever had an achievement recognised,” shares Vi, Blue Dragon co-CEO, “ever!”

Coming from crushing poverty, most Blue Dragon kids have never experienced the feeling of being formally rewarded for their effort before. So, stepping onto the stage in front of their friends and receiving a certificate to rapturous applause is a moment they will carry with them forever.

Lien, a deaf girl who played the role of one of the grandchildren in the play about family reunion, received an award for leadership this year.

2024 was a big year for Lien. While keeping up her excellent performance at school, Lien joins activities to promote sign language within her community, attends Blue Dragon leadership activities and takes fellow Blue Dragon kids under her wing when they need guidance. 

Lien beamed with joy as she received her award. “I feel very proud and happy to receive the award,” shae shared. “It shows that my effort has been well recognised and at the same time, it’s a motivation for me to try harder in the future. Thank you so much!”

When kids like Lien can see that their hard work and dedication is recognised, it gives them a well-earned boost to keep striving for a better world.