Tiếng ViệtOnce withdrawn into silence and wounded by family trauma, Hồ Thành Đô (born in 2010), a Bru-Vân Kiều boy from Cây Cà village, Trường Sơn commune, has gradually risen from his pain at the SOS Children’s Village in Đồng Hới. With determination and perseverance, he not only learned to live harmoniously and confidently but also shone in the Vovinam martial arts arena. Two silver medals at the Central and Central Highlands Vovinam Championships are well-deserved rewards for his tireless efforts—a boy who turned hardship into motivation to move forward.
Hồ Thành Đô – A Bru-Vân Kiều boy with a great passion for Vovinam martial arts.-Photo: T.A
Overcoming the Darkness
Early in the morning, the small courtyard at the SOS Children’s Village in Đồng Hới echoes with rhythmic martial arts shouts. Among the rows of steady footsteps, young Bru-Vân Kiều boy Hồ Thành Đô stands out—not for his small frame, but for his determined eyes and precise movements. For Đô, training time is something special.
He is often the first to arrive, warming up thoroughly before quietly joining the lineup. His thin frame and sun-kissed skin conceal powerful, disciplined, and confident strikes. Few would guess that this small, agile boy with a constant smile had once lived through such a dark and almost insurmountable period.
Đô came to martial arts by chance—and perhaps as a path to overcome his painful past. Four years ago, Đô’s parents disappeared without a word, leaving him and his two sisters behind in the vast wilderness. In a place where hunger and cold still linger, three children left unattended was nothing short of a nightmare.
Upon hearing of the situation, local authorities worked with social organizations to bring the siblings to the SOS Children’s Village in Đồng Hới. “When he first arrived, he wouldn’t speak, wouldn’t interact—he just watched everything with wary eyes. It was heartbreaking. We knew he needed time and a great deal of love to heal,” recalled Hoàng Thị Linh, his caregiver at the village.
Love has a magical way of healing. Through patience, compassion, and responsibility, the “mothers” at the SOS Village helped Đô gradually open his heart. Full meals, bedtime stories, gentle hugs after nightmares—these helped him overcome his shame. He began to befriend his housemates and joined group activities. Though still shy, his eyes lost their sorrow, and his face began to smile. Đô became more open, more sociable, and above all, showed a remarkable will to overcome hardship.
“I once asked him what he wished for most. He immediately answered, ‘I want to study well and succeed so no one will look down on me.’ His answer brought tears to my eyes. A child who had been abandoned carried within him a burning desire to prove his worth. Đô is truly special,” said Linh emotionally.
| “Thành Đô is one of the children who deeply moves and makes us proud. Despite the pain he’s endured, he never gave in to fate—always striving to rise. He is persistent, respectful, affectionate, and embodies an incredible spirit of perseverance. His achievements in sports are the clearest proof of what love, proper care, and belief in the future can do,” shared Nguyễn Ngọc Ninh, Director of the SOS Children’s Village in Đồng Hới. |
Shining Through Passion
Raised in an environment of discipline, love, and encouragement to pursue his talents, Hồ Thành Đô gradually discovered a deep passion—martial arts. In 2023, he joined the Vovinam martial arts club at the SOS Village, founded by Nguyễn Văn Tuyến. Though he lacked the physical advantages of his peers, Đô’s resilience allowed him to endure and master every technique with patience.
Surrounded by love and care at the SOS Village, Đô (in yellow) has become more open and sociable.
— Photo: T.A
After over a year of diligent training, in 2024, Đô participated in the Central and Central Highlands Vovinam Championship for the first time. Despite facing opponents older and more experienced, the young ethnic minority boy showed no fear. He fought bravely, demonstrating composure and skill, and won a silver medal in the 45kg male sparring category for ages 12–15.
Not stopping there, in 2025, Đô competed again and once more brought home a prestigious silver medal. He also earned many gold medals in provincial tournaments. These achievements are not only a personal source of pride but a priceless spiritual gift for those who have supported and loved him through tough times. “His success is the result of relentless training. He never misses a practice—even when slightly ill. Once he bruised his leg during training, but still asked to keep going,” said Tuyến.
For Đô, martial arts is more than just a sport—it’s a way of finding himself. On the mat, he can express strength and confidence—qualities he once thought he lacked. The medals are rewards, living proof of a child’s journey to overcome adversity.
When asked about his future dreams, Đô replied, “I want to become a martial arts coach and teach children like me. I also want to continue studying to help kids back home have a better life.” A simple dream, yet filled with humanity—born from the heart of a child who once knew loss and hardship.
At the SOS Children’s Village in Đồng Hới, Hồ Thành Đô is not the only child with a difficult past. But he is a shining example of resilience, of rising above fate; a living testament to the belief that the right kind of love can transform a life.
By Tâm An – Quảng Trị Newspaper