Blue Dragon Children's Foundation

Volunteer Opportunities: Yes

History

Michael Brosowski, an Australian professor, arrived in Vietnam in 2002 to work at Hanoi's National University. There he found really passionate students; one student in particular, Pham Sy Chung, helped Brosowski teach weekly classes of English, math, art and yoga to 5-10 shoeshine boys. They started a football team that attracted a lot of street boys and soon realized the need to expand and dedicate more time to them. By the end of 2003, Blue Dragon was born, and in the beginning of 2004, the first Blue Dragon residence, called 'The Big Room,' was established in Hanoi. In order to provide support to the work done in Vietnam, Michael and a group of Australians formed the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation Committee in Australia. Back in the Bac Ninh province, a sponsorship program was launched to keep poor rural children in school and off the streets in Hanoi.

Since then, they have treated and rescued trafficked children, victims of the sex trade and slave laborers. Blue Dragon has 66 staff members and cares for over 1,500 children in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hue, Hoi An and Dien Bien. By focusing on getting kids back into school, training and apprenticeships, they are working for the long-term benefit of the children in need.

Mission

Blue Dragon provides educational opportunities for a lasting change.