The issues related to children's rights are one of the main concerns of international law as well as Vietnamese law. Wanting to protect children's rights, over the last 30 years, Tran Minh Hai, MA in Social Work, has traveled throughout the country and has been to 27 countries to implement projects that help children.

Hai began this work after he finished high school. As he failed the entrance exam to university, he stayed in HCM City to work to earn money and review for the university entrance exam once again.

Hai often wandered streets to learn about and discover people’s lives. He met a lot of people and realized that he had a deep sympathy towards street children.

One day, when opening a newspaper used to wrap up his steamed sticky rice eaten for breakfast, Hai was attracted by news that a Swiss NGO project wanted street educators.

Believing that the job fit him, Hai decided to apply for the job. After interviews, he became a street educator and began working for the project.

After getting the job, Hai spent nearly all his time on streets. In 1993-1997, Hai both worked as the head of a team of four social workers at Cau Muoi Club, now Tre Xanh Home in district 1, HCM City and went to HCM City Open University, majoring in women’s studies.

During that time, he studied and helped uncared-for children in Cau Muoi, Xom Chieu and Ben Thanh market areas.

He met many street children and wanderers who named him ‘Hai CauMuoi’. Being communicative, Hai talked with them and gained children’s trust.

“When talking to street children, I try to find out their advantages and strengths. I don’t care about their past and never despise them,” he said.

This way of approach helped Hai better understand street children’s needs. This allowed him and his co-workers to find the best measures to support them.

Shield for street children

In 2000, Hai obtained a scholarship attending a 3-month training course on community development in the Philippines.

Returning to Vietnam after finishing the training course, Hai took the office as head of Tre Xanh Home, and managed projects on assisting street children in HCM City. Hai began running training courses on social skills throughout the country.

Asked about the experience to draw children from street life and social evils, Hai said he spends a lot of time to observe the children. After he finds out the children’s habits, he approaches them at night. 

He creates opportunities to meet children as if the meetings are accidental, and makes acquaintance with them. After one or two meetings, he can become a friend and once he can gain their trust, he introduces them to clubs that help street children and homes they can contact if they need support.

He invites children to entertainment activities at Tre Xanh Home. Through these activities, he and his coworkers convey the message that the organization is willing to help children like them. 

He also introduces benefits offered to the children, such as free bathing, eating, reading books, and watching TV, thus encouraging them to give up bad jobs and street life.

“Finally, we introduce some careers to children by showing some videos. They watch the videos and choose the careers that fit them. If they want to study, we will send them to classes,” he said.

“We bring job opportunities to the children, so that they can work to get money and feed themselves and integrate into society,” Hai said.

Phung Ngoc Phong is one of the street children who received support from Hai. Phong once led a ring that attacked people and robbed them of their money. But he has changed his life since the day he met Hai. Phong is now the owner of a car garage in HCM City and runs a fund to support street children.

Hoang Ha