Cuong, now in his third year at Danang Architecture University, grew up in a humble household where every family member worked hard just to make ends meet. His father toils on farms in Dak Nong Province, far from home, while his mother sells vegetables at the local market. His younger sister works at a cinema, and his youngest brother—who is visually impaired—earns a living as a massage therapist, often returning home exhausted after long, stressful days.
Before joining Children of Vietnam (COV), Cuong carried the weight of his family’s sacrifices with quiet resilience. The cost of his education loomed like a constant shadow.
“I felt immense pressure. I’m the only one in my family who’s made it to university, and it feels like everyone is putting aside their own dreams to help me pursue mine,” he shares. “Every time I thought about tuition, I worried—how would we afford it? I felt guilty that my parents had to save every penny just to support me.”
But everything changed when Cuong became a Bright Scholar through Children of Vietnam. With his tuition and living expenses covered, he could finally focus on what mattered most: his studies and his future. His hard work paid off—last semester, he earned excellent results.
Yet Cuong’s talents reach far beyond the classroom. A gifted visual artist, he’s part of a mural painting group and recently contributed to the city’s Tet decorations, painting cheerful New Year symbols that lit up the streets. He dreams of traveling the country, leaving a trail of murals in his wake—and one day, teaching art to others.
But Cuong’s creativity doesn’t stop with a paintbrush. Music has become another outlet for his self-expression. He’s learning to play the guitar and has even started composing his own rap songs, blending rhythm and emotion into powerful lyrics.
“Music helps me tell my story in a different way,” he explains. “It’s another way for me to dream.”
Cuong’s journey isn’t just about receiving financial aid—it’s about having the opportunity to dream, to create, and to grow. Children of Vietnam has given him more than support; it has given him the freedom to explore his passions and shape his own path forward.
With a paintbrush in one hand and a guitar in the other, Cuong is boldly stepping into his future—one mural, one melody, and one dream at a time.