At just six years old, little Van Trung already dreams of becoming a football player like his idol Ronaldo.
Trung is a lively, bright-eyed boy studying at Dakrong Kindergarten No. 2, a small school nestled in one of the most difficult areas of Quang Tri province. His teachers describe him as cheerful and full of energy, always the first to join a game. “He’s small, but very quick on his feet,” one teacher said with a smile. “Whenever the ball comes out, he’s the happiest child in the yard.”
At home, Trung lives with his grandfather, Mr. Van Xa, and siblings while his parents work far away. His grandfather admits he often worried. “I’m old now, and there are many children to look after,” he shared. “Sometimes I was afraid Trung wouldn’t grow strong without his parents here.”
Like many children in his community, meals were often plain and lacking in nutrition. But everything began to change when Children of Vietnam brought nutritious rice to Trung’s school. Suddenly, the children’s plates looked different—more colorful, more filling, and full of new flavors.
For Trung, it was something unfamiliar at first, but soon it became something he looked forward to every day. At first, he wrinkled his nose at the new food — “The rice smelled strange.” But now, with a shy grin, he says, “I like it. The rice is yummy and has carrots too.”
Each week, Trung enjoys three rice meals and two bowls of porridge at school. In just six months, his weight increased by one kilogram—a small but meaningful sign that he is growing stronger. The difference is easy to see. Trung has grown stronger and more playful. Each afternoon, he runs up and down the hills, chasing after a ball with his brothers, sisters, and friends from the village. “He eats better and has more energy,” his grandfather said warmly. “It makes me happy to watch him running and laughing.”
With reduced meal costs at school, his grandfather can even save a little—sometimes enough to buy small treats for the children. “It feels good to give them something extra now and then,” he said.
And as for Trung, his dream grows with him. Holding his old ball tightly, he says with quiet determination, “I want to play football like Ronaldo. When I’m good, I’ll buy a house for my grandfather and my sisters.”
It is a simple wish from a little boy. But who knows—perhaps one day, this very schoolyard will welcome back a famous player who began with COV’s support, a bowl of rice, and a dream.