Hieu Luu: Breaker of Barriers
Since being diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Hieu Luu has stood up to schoolyard bullies, helped kids thrive at Blue Dragon and worked for the United Nations. Through it all, she has broken barriers and followed her heart.
NOT AN ANGEL
The most memorable part of Hieu’s childhood was overcoming bullies. She relished standing up to the frequent insults from her schoolmates, and was quick to deflect their attacks.
“Learning how to face discrimination is a good experience. I even learned to swear early, to show the bullies that I was strong.”
Hieu also faced discrimination from the educational system itself. While most children learn to read and write once they’ve begun school, she had to prove her literacy skills before being allowed to enrol.
Once Hieu made it into school, many teachers questioned her right to be there. She especially disliked it when they pitied her or expected her to be what she calls a “motivator”; a sweet girl with disabilities to be used as inspiration for other students, rather than a rounded human being with her own flaws and quirks.
“I suddenly changed from a very gentle child to a very naughty child. I went to internet cafes to play games instead of doing homework, just to show them that I’m not an angel, that I could be naughty like every other kid.”
Many years later, Hieu is still fighting for the same things – breaking barriers, avoiding pity and, above all, following her heart.
WESTLIFE AND BRITNEY SPEARS
From a young age, Hieu’s heart told her not to settle for the quiet life that society expected of her.
Despite the bullies, the educational barriers and her own rebellious streak, she excelled at school. Her grades were so good that she caught the attention of the Association of Children with Disabilities and Orphans, who introduced her to Blue Dragon at 15 years old.
Here, Hieu finally found a place where she was treated without pity or prejudice.
“Blue Dragon gave me a different perspective on charity. I saw that their approach toward me and my friends was empowering, not imposing, and that their way could change society more positively.”
Hieu with her friend Yen, whom she introduced to Blue Dragon
At Blue Dragon, Hieu spent time with friends like Yen, tried a range of activities and began studying English and IT. She also discovered karaoke as a powerful learning tool, a means of self-empowerment and a connection to some of her favourite childhood memories.
“Since I was a child, every time we do karaoke, my dad sings old Vietnamese songs… At Blue Dragon, we used singing practice to help build confidence, and because of karaoke I became interested in learning English.”
Hieu is a big fan of Westlife and Britney Spears, which boosted her motivation to learn English. While she was initially shy in front of others, belting out her favourite English language songs helped her to conquer her fears.
“I overcame those feelings just to sing my favourite songs!”
Later, Hieu would use everything she learnt at Blue Dragon to pass the same sense of empowerment on to other people.
NO LIMITS
Hieu went on to thrive in the wider world. She completed a German Studies degree at Hanoi University before taking a Public Policy master’s in Malaysia.
The university in Malaysia was so impressed by Hieu that they asked her to stay after she graduated, but Hieu had different ideas; she returned to Hanoi and began working at Blue Dragon.
“I had to come back to my heart.”
Hieu supported children with disabilities, giving them all the specially tailored care that she was so impressed by as a Blue Dragon kid herself.
Hieu with her Blue Dragon teammates
Hoang, a kid supported by Hieu at Blue Dragon, hard at work
Of all the amazing experiences Hieu has had in her career, there is one case from that era that still tugs on her heartstrings like nothing else.
Hieu worked one-on-one with a boy called Hoang. Hoang was deaf and had intellectual disabilities, so Hieu helped him to develop communication methods including basic sign language and picture cards.
Hieu then helped Hoang to make a CV, which he used to land an internship at a cafe. Hieu worked with the cafe manager to tailor Hoang’s job responsibilities to his strengths, making sure he had everything he needed to thrive.
Hoang was a huge success. He earned himself a permanent job and still works in the same cafe today. The experience confirmed for Hieu that, with the right support, there are “no limits” to what people with disabilities can achieve.
“Blue Dragon put so much time and effort into helping Hoang, but it was totally worth it… The time I spent learning about him was the happiest of my career.”
CRAZY FREEWHEELER
“People with disabilities don’t need to be integrated into society, they just need barriers to be removed.”
After leaving her job at Blue Dragon in 2019, Hieu spent 18 months studying disability access in Japan before returning to Hanoi with a job at the United Nations.
Hieu was instrumental in improving accessibility around the UN building, helping to implement lower elevator buttons and raised surfaces for blind people. She also spent much of her freetime campaigning for better accessibility around Hanoi.
Under the username crazy_freewheeler, Hieu used TikTok to draw attention to the difficulties of navigating Hanoi via public bus. In doing so, one of her goals was to remove psychological barriers forced upon people with disabilities from birth.
“Sometimes people with disabilities don’t dare to do anything because they’re told they should just stay in the house out of people’s way.”
After some of Hieu’s posts went viral, other people with disabilities felt empowered to get out of their homes and explore the city.
“I think the bigger impact from my videos was encouraging people with disabilities to go out. Many people messaged me saying that now they have more confidence to use public transport. I also get emails from foreigners with disabilities saying that they want to visit Vietnam.”
MARU AMIGURUMI
Like a rising tide lifts all ships, every time Hieu steps up in life she brings other people with her.
In 2021, Hieu co-founded a social enterprise called Maru Amigurumi, where she employs people with disabilities and survivors of domestic abuse to handcraft crocheted Japanese-style dolls to sell in a small shop. The money raised funds a support group for 50 people with cerebral palsy.
The venture marks the first time that Hieu has lived in her own apartment, which she is enjoying very much. Her goal is to help her team members experience similar levels of independence; through this, they can break down restrictive social perceptions of people with disabilities.
“If they can pay even a part of the electricity bill for their home, it will change the way their families see them. If the way their families see them changes, it will change the way society sees them.”
From helping children stand on their own two feet at Blue Dragon, to inspiring more people with disabilities to use public buses, to enabling her team at Maru Amigurumi to boost their family income; Hieu empowers individuals to show society that, when barriers are removed, there are no limits to what they can do.
SHOW THEM YOUR HEART
At school, Hieu learnt how to stand up to discrimination and break down barriers. At Blue Dragon, she learnt the values of individual empowerment, and has continued to pass this on to others in every step of life since.
“Most people treat people with disabilities as if you’re unlucky and pity you always. Pity love is not real love. It’s what prevents real love… Just being yourself is enough to help people. And when you help people, you have to show them your heart.”
At Blue Dragon, Hieu was treated with the same sincerity and respect as any other person we meet. Whether they’re a street kid, a person with disabilities or a Blue Dragon team member, honesty, compassion and belief in people’s potential are at the heart of all our relationships.
Like Hieu, Blue Dragon doesn’t do pity; we do empowerment. We enable kids like Hieu to thrive in whatever life path they choose.
For Hieu, that path is wherever her heart decides to take her next.
“I had to come back to my heart”
