Vu: finding his rhythm

Little boy in a crowded room

For most of his early childhood, Vu’s world stretched no further than the small and crowded room he lived in. There wasn’t much space to move around or simply to be a kid. 

Vu had to drop out of school when his family couldn’t afford the fees, and even though the people around him cared for him, he never really got the chance to run outside and find out what he could do. Then a tragic turn of events changed his life.

After Vu’s grandmother died, someone in his family reached out to Blue Dragon for support. Soon after, we got him back to school where could learn and play with other children.

Finding his rhythm

At first, Vu kept to himself and had a hard time expressing what he felt. He wasn’t able to connect with friends – not because he didn’t like them, but because no one had shown him how to say what was going on inside him. It would take time and require something to finally inspire Vu to open up.

That something turned out to be hip-hop. Vu remembers watching the older kids practise and thinking he’d never be able to move like they did. There was no one to dance with at home, so he’d stay behind after sessions, over and over, teaching himself the steps on his own. Rain or shine, Vu kept showing up.

Four years on, that same boy who once struggled to speak up is now a confident 13-year-old. Whether he’s on the dance floor, the football pitch or taking part in a group discussion, he has the self-belief to express himself and bring out the best in his friends.

Still going, still growing

Ask any Blue Dragon staff member about Vu, and here’s what you’ll hear the most: he’s always on time. Even though his home is about 10 km from school and even further from the Blue Dragon centre, he never misses a session and never shows up late. 

Starting school three years later than most children his age meant that Vu’s classmates were all younger than him. He had to start from scratch, slowly catching up with his peers – but not once has he thought about giving up. He just finished primary school, and this year, he’s moving up to Grade 6. Besides hip hop and football, Vu also loves running and badminton, he’s always up for trying something new, always ready to give it his all.

“When I dance or play sport, since it’s what I really love, I actually feel like I can do it,” Vu shares. “I like the feeling of competing, I like when people watch and cheer for me, it makes me feel like I’ve really done it.” 

Vu shares:

A dream taking shape

Whenever anyone asks Vu about his future, he doesn’t hesitate, “I want to grow up and be able to provide for my mother and take really good care of her.”

He dreams of achieving that by becoming a bartender, standing behind the counter, mixing his favourite drinks for the people he loves.

Whatever path Vu ends up choosing, one thing’s for sure: the boy who once had no room to move now can’t stop moving on the dance floor, and knows what it feels like to belong and to feel like a child. And Blue Dragon will be right there with him, cheering him on every step of the way.