Dung: free to design her own future
Dung’s life was turned upside down before it had ever really begun. With the support of Blue Dragon, her grandparents and her beloved uncle, she is now following her dream of becoming a graphic designer.
A moment lost in time
Dung’s most cherished childhood memory is just a few hazy images of a normal family dinner at her home in the mountains of northern Vietnam.
She knows that her parents and siblings were all gathered around the table. And she knows that they ate, chatted, played and went to bed happy.
What Dung couldn’t have known was how few of those normal family dinners she would ever get to enjoy.
Dung comes from a mountainous community in the north of Vietnam.
Upheaval
Dung doesn’t remember how old she was when her father passed away, but it must have been soon after that family dinner.
Without the support of her husband, Dung’s mother struggled to provide for all her children. This led her to a heart-wrenching choice that upended everything Dung knew and loved in life: she placed Dung in the care of her uncle, separate from her beloved brothers and sisters.
Suddenly, Dung’s life had changed beyond recognition. Dung has dwarfism, and as she got older the sense of being treated differently to other people became a familiar pattern – and something she has had to fight against as she has risen to her current life.
“It’s just always been my mindset. I’m smaller than most people, and I’ve always known I need to push harder than others and do my best.”
Dung with her cousins.
A new family
While the shock of being separated from her siblings was traumatic, Dung grew to love her new life. With her grandparents and her uncle beside her, she looked after her younger cousins when she got home from school each day, playing and laughing with them just like she used to do with her brothers and sisters.
“We were very poor,” shares Dung. “But we were happy.”
Dung’s uncle is a tough and hardworking man of few words – and one of the most caring people she has ever known. Right from the start, he treated Dung like one of his own children, working in the fields from sunrise every day to give her and her cousins the best life he could.
“He’s like my second father,” shares Dung.
Dung’s uncle insisted that none of the children would ever drop out of school to help him in the fields, constantly telling them: “If you keep studying and following your dreams, you will have a good future.”
Despite his efforts and support from Dung’s grandparents, he struggled to pay school fees for all the children in his home. Dung was always in danger of having to drop out and let go of her dreams for the future.
Then a neighbour introduced Dung to Blue Dragon, and all her dreams got a little bit closer.
Blue Dragon social worker, Hien, visiting Dung at home.
Blue Dragon supported Dung with her studies.
Design your own future
With Blue Dragon’s support, Dung’s uncle was able to spend less time working and more time with his children, freeing up Dung’s evenings for study and hobbies.
This allowed Dung to focus on her passion for the arts. She began reading as many books as she could while researching and practicing graphic design.
Dung quickly fell in love with the feeling of creation; the sense of satisfaction when, through hours of hard work, she could look at a finished piece of art in front of her. She knew that this was what she wanted to do with her future.
With Blue Dragon’s support and the constant encouragement of her grandparents and uncle, Dung graduated school and successfully applied for a graphic design course in Hanoi.
Dung at her high school graduation.
The big city
Upon arriving in Hanoi, Dung visited the Blue Dragon centre for the first time. She chatted to some of the people who have been supporting her over the years, played with the children and spoke about how it felt to arrive in the big city.
“There are loads of high buildings and the streets are crazy. It’s quite overwhelming!”
On top of the culture shock of city life, Dung worried that her new classmates might not fully accept her because of her height. But Dung has spent her whole life defying the odds, and won’t let anyone or anything stop her from reaching her potential.
And Dung is not alone. Her uncle travelled to Hanoi with her, lending her his strength and experience as she settles into a new life with the Blue Dragon community beside her.
“I feel like Blue Dragon is another parent,” shares Dung, “helping me to grow and thrive since I was a child. I’m extremely happy.”
It was great for Dung to finally visit the Blue Dragon centre.
She took time to chat with staff and play with children.
Just the beginning
Shortly after visiting Blue Dragon, Dung began her graphic design course. She has already made lots of friends and is excited to learn as much as she can.
Dung’s new goal is to combine her love of literature and graphic design by pursuing a career illustrating book covers.
“I’m already much more confident in communicating with other people. Even though I see so many challenges in this field, I’ll do my best to see my passions through to the end. My favourite thing about studying is that I’ve made some really good friends.”
For someone whose family was upended at such a young age; who has had to push harder than most people just to have a fair shot at following her passions, Dung has carved out a life full of friends, new families and hope.
“Don’t give up!” shares Dung. “Don’t get hung up on being different and let it prevent you from stepping out and seeing the beauty in life.”
Dung with her new friends in Hanoi.
