In 2002, Australian teacher Michael Brosowski moved to Vietnam where he worked at Hanoi’s National Economics University. Within months, he and several of his students were teaching English and life skills to the city’s shoeshine boys, who were trying to earn money just to survive. Soon the idea for an open football team arose, giving street kids an opportunity to play, meet together and seek help. The idea for creating Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation soon became a reality, with the organisation officially registered in 2004.
While street children exist throughout Vietnam, they are most prevalent in urban centres, specifically Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Life on the streets is dangerous. In Vietnam, street kids are typically children who have come to the city from rural areas to escape extreme hardship. Instead, many end up lost and alone with no food or shelter, making them vulnerable to abuse, human trafficking and exploitation. Blue Dragon is there for them. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, they provide emergency help to street children and homeless families and give them the support they need to grow, thrive, and create a bright future.
For over 20 years Blue Dragon has been a leading agency in Vietnam’s fight against human trafficking. They rescue children and young adults who have been trafficked for sexual or labour exploitation, from homelessness and the dangers of the streets. Once they have ensured their safety, they provide them with everything they need to heal, rebuild their lives, and thrive.
Human trafficking is a crime. It involves exploiting people for sex, or to make them work, using force, threats, manipulation or deceit. Child trafficking and sex trafficking are particularly exploitative practices.
Over two decades, Blue Dragon has transformed thousands of lives and contributed to four national laws to protect children and adults in Vietnam. In 2015, Blue Dragon worked with the National Assembly to revise Vietnam’s law on Child Protection. The improved new law led to the arrest of several notorious child abusers, and much safer lives for homeless children.
Trustees from MSAVLC first became acquainted with the work of Blue Dragon back in 2004 and have seen it grow since then. In 2024 MSAVLC sent £5,000 to Blue Dragon to help with the humanitarian and medical aid following the destruction caused by Typhoon Yagi.
Essential food and medical supplies provided by Blue Dragon
2026 – UPDATE
In March this year we met with Michael Brosowski, the director of Blue Dragon, in Hanoi. We toured his operational centre and talked with him at length about his work. We were very impressed with his organisation and the work that they were doing to help street kids, and rescue people from trafficking.
When the children are rescued, they are understandably distressed and many need counselling to help them to recover from the horrors they have endured. Michael explained that medical psychologists were needed to help the children overcome these horrors and help them to heal.
MSAVLC is keen to help, and the Trustees have agreed to fund a psychologist to work with these children in Hanoi.