Little girl in a big storm
The river beside 6-year-old Nhim’s house began to rise. Hanoi had just been hit by the third storm in quick succession, and many areas were already under water.
Nhim’s grandmother lay across a thin mattress on the concrete floor. She had been bedridden with illness for almost two years and would have no chance of fleeing if the water reached them.
When Blue Dragon social workers Quynh and Yen arrived with emergency food and supplies, it was clear that Nhim’s family needed more help. We quickly relocated them to a hotel where they could wait out the flooding in safety.
For Nhim, it was all a big adventure where she could explore a new place with her sisters. For her mother, Luong, it was a reminder that they still have a long way to go before they can rise above the poverty that has trapped their family for generations.
Some nearby houses were already flooded.
Nhim ran out to greet the social workers when they came to visit after the storms.
Nhim played with other children in the hotel.
Blue Dragon delivered plenty of food and supplies to people sheltering in hotels.
At a loss
For her whole adult life, Luong has worked whatever jobs she can find in order to provide for her daughters. When we first met her she was working as a delivery driver.
We supported her oldest daughter to stay in school, but when it came time for Nhim to begin Grade 1, Luong found herself at a loss. She suffered a back injury that meant she could no longer do deliveries, while her mother became seriously ill and needed constant medical care.
Luong began working nightshifts selling fruit at a nearby market, but the income was lower than her old job and her bills were higher. How could she possibly pay for Nhim to go through the education system while keeping food on the table for three daughters and her chronically ill mother?
Once again, Luong turned to Blue Dragon for support. We made sure Nhim started school along with all her friends, arranged medical care for Luong’s mother and provided them with everything they needed to thrive.
Nhim with Quynh, a Blue Dragon social worker.
Nhim’s mother sells fruit at a nearby market.
Nhim’s sisters greet Yen at their home.
Protector
Even during the devastating storms and floods, Nhim kept going to school and studying in the evenings. She loves learning and treats her textbooks like her most precious possessions.
This sense of caring – for others, for objects and for the world around her – is clear through Nhim’s day-to-day actions. She’s very sensitive to people’s feelings, often encouraging Blue Dragon staff to rest and take care of themselves.
Nhim has a talent for music. She has natural rhythm and a sensitivity for beat and melody. In her free time, she loves to study and explore on her own, creating pieces of art that she proudly shows to her friends at the Blue Dragon centre.
Nhim takes pride in being a good big sister.
She’s a very creative girl with lots of ideas.
Nhim enjoys art activities.
Adventurer
While Nhim is great at bringing a smile to people’s faces, there’s something else that she believes she’s even better at. When her social worker asked what she considered to be her biggest life skill, she smiled wide and said: “I’m good at exploring!”
Fittingly for someone who aims to be a first-rate explorer, Nhim’s favourite Blue Dragon activity is going on trips. She rarely gets the chance to visit new places with her family, but with Blue Dragon she has joined wilderness survival camps, fun runs and a three-day “emotional regulation retreat” in the countryside.
As soon as the group arrived at the retreat, Nhim began exploring the surrounding nature. She picked fruit, swam in a natural pond and helped to prepare fresh vegetables for the evening meal. Beaming with joy, she shared that it was the most fun she’d ever had.
Nhim was excited about her mission to harvest corn.
A successful harvest!
Nhim (second from left) loves every moment she gets to spend with her friends.
Free to dream
Nhim might one day achieve her goal of becoming a police officer so that she can protect people, or she could change that dream countless times within the next year.
Whatever she goes on to do in the future, she has the freedom to choose and the means to make her goals reality.
As Nhim continues learning and growing, Blue Dragon will keep giving her chances to explore the world around her — sticking by her side through floods and unforeseen hurdles until she and her sisters can free their family from poverty for generations to come.
Nhim knows Blue Dragon is always beside her.
Nhim can raise her family into a bright future.
Nhim’s journey has only just begun!
