Living in the love and care of everyone at SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi, Ho Thanh Do (second from left) is increasingly open and sociable. -Photo: TA
Overcoming the darkness
Early in the morning, the small yard in the SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi is bustling with the rhythmic chants of each martial art move. Among the long line of steady footsteps, Bru-Van Kieu boy Ho Thanh Do stands out with his small stature but determined eyes and decisive movements. For Do, martial arts practice is a special time.
He was usually the first to arrive at the stadium, warmed up thoroughly, and then quietly stood in line. He was thin and tanned, but every move he made exuded strength, discipline, and confidence. Few people would have guessed that this small, agile, and always smiling boy had once gone through dark days that seemed impossible to overcome.
Do came to martial arts as a chance and as a way to overcome his painful past. 4 years ago, Do's parents disappeared without a word of goodbye, leaving Do and her three siblings in the middle of the wilderness, alone and desolate. In the middle of the remote mountains and forests, where hunger and cold still permeate, having three children without anyone to care for them is no different from a nightmare.
Upon hearing the news, the local authorities coordinated with sponsoring organizations to bring the Do sisters to the SOS Children's Village in Dong Hoi to be raised. "When she first arrived, she did not speak or communicate, she just looked at everything with wary eyes. Looking at her at that time, I felt so sorry for her! We knew she needed time and enough love to heal those wounds," said Ms. Hoang Thi Linh, who directly cared for Do at the village.
Love always has a miraculous way of healing. With perseverance, love and responsibility, the mothers at SOS Children's Village helped Do open his heart step by step. Full meals, nightly story-telling sessions, and gentle hugs when he was startled by nightmares helped Do overcome his inferiority complex. He began to get to know his housemates and then participated in common activities. Although still shy, his eyes were no longer gloomy, his face knew how to smile. Do gradually became more open, more sociable and especially, he revealed a very strong will to overcome difficulties.
“Once I asked: What do you want most? Do immediately answered: I want to study well and be successful so that no one will look down on me in the future. The answer made me tear up. A child who was once abandoned still has a desire to affirm his own worth. Do is a very special child!”, Ms. Linh emotionally recounted.
“Thanh Do is one of the children who makes us truly touched and proud. He has suffered a lot of pain but does not give up on his situation and always strives to improve. He is persistent, polite, emotional and especially has the spirit of overcoming difficulties. His achievements in sports are the clearest proof of the value of love, proper care and faith in the future,” said Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Ninh, Director of SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi. |
Shine your passion
Growing up in a disciplined, loving and talented environment, Ho Thanh Do gradually found a great passion for himself, which is martial arts. In 2023, he joined Vovinam training at the SOS Children's Village martial arts club founded by Nguyen Van Tuyen. Although he does not have the advantage of physical strength or physique like his friends, Do has a spirit of overcoming difficulties, which helps him to be persistent and patient in every move.
Bru-Van Kieu boy Ho Thanh Do has a great passion for martial arts.-Photo: TA
After more than a year of hard training, in 2024, Do participated in the Central Highlands Vovinam Championship for the first time. Facing opponents who were older and more experienced than him, the ethnic minority boy was not intimidated. He competed bravely, showing his mettle and skillful technique, winning a silver medal in the men's 45kg weight class, 12-15 age group.
Not stopping there, in 2025, Do continued to participate in the tournament and once again brought home the prestigious silver medal. In addition, Do has won many gold medals in provincial competitions. This achievement is not only a source of pride for him, but also a priceless spiritual gift for those who have loved and supported him throughout the difficult years. “Do's achievements are the result of a process of continuous training. I never missed a practice session, even when I was slightly sick. There was a time when I fell and bruised my leg, but I still asked to practice more,” Tuyen said.
For Do, martial arts is not only a sport, but also a way for him to find himself again. On the stage, he can show his strength and confidence, things that he thought he did not have before. And the medals are the reward, the living proof of the journey "against the wind" of a child who was once hurt.
When asked about his future dream, Do replied: “I want to be a martial arts coach to teach children like me. I also want to go to higher education to help children in the countryside have a better life.” A simple but meaningful dream, coming from the heart of a boy who has experienced loss and hardship.
At SOS Children's Village Dong Hoi, Ho Thanh Do is not the only child in difficult circumstances. But he is one of the typical faces of perseverance in overcoming difficulties, of the spirit of rising up and not surrendering to fate; a living proof of the belief that: Loving in the right way can change a life.
Peace of Mind
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/tin-o-ngay-mai-195602.htm
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