Do Ha Cu - the sower of hope

I was given a copy of "The Color of Hope" by author Do Ha Cu. The more I read, the more impressed I became by his journey of overcoming adversity, opening the door to hope, and sharing love – a victim of Agent Orange.

I befriended him and had the opportunity to listen to him share about his current life and future dreams. The more I learned about him, the more I admired Do Ha Cu, a young man in a wheelchair who carries his love to all corners of the world.

Overcoming fate

Do Ha Cu was born in 1984 in Thai Binh province. He is the child of his father, a soldier who fought bravely in the fierce Quang Tri battlefield, and his mother, a student at Hanoi University of Water Resources. He was born on April 30th. His parents were overjoyed, but little did they know that challenges and difficulties lay ahead.

When he was born, Ha Cu weighed only 2 kg and was frail. His mother meticulously cared for him, but little Cu never developed normally like other children. He would lie still wherever his mother placed him. Cu couldn't sit up or lift his neck. His limbs would just flail aimlessly. His body was very soft, but if anyone touched him, his limbs would stiffen and tense up as if in self-defense. His mother persistently cared for him, taking him to any doctor recommended, no matter how far away, with a burning hope that he would be like other children, happily playing in the yard, going to school to learn to read and write, but all her efforts were in vain. At that time, science was not yet developed, so they didn't know he was a victim of Agent Orange.

Mr. Cu is very happy when reading books - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Tormented by illness, suffering from physical pain, and constantly on medication, there were times when he felt he wouldn't be able to recover. When alone at home, hearing his peers running and playing happily outside, he longed to explore life on his own two feet. But all he found was sorrow and helplessness. Many times, Cu contemplated death. But his mother's love helped Do Ha Cu overcome his feelings of inferiority, to continue living and to live a meaningful life.

A space for hopeful reading.

Do Ha Cu was not allowed to go to school. His mother and books were his two teachers. From a young age, he loved reading. He learned to read through his mother's poems. He learned to read while his mother taught his younger brother, lying beside her, attentively listening and murmuring along with each letter and verse.

Once he had memorized all the letters of the alphabet and could read books, he wanted to learn computer skills. Learning computer skills was much more difficult than learning to read, and his younger brother and mother were always there to support him. By installing a virtual keyboard on the screen, he learned to type with one index finger. He was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked, but he persevered. He used artificial intelligence software to type using voice commands and write text using voice input. Because he understood that only information technology and knowledge from books could connect him to the outside world.

Cruel fate confined his body within four walls, but it could not imprison his soul and passion. The number of books at home was insufficient for him to read, and buying more was too expensive. He connected with bookstores and philanthropists, asking for books to satisfy his passion.

Mr. Cu studies computer science - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

His love of books became the bond that connected him with Ms. Duong Le Nga, Mr. Tran Thien Tung, and Ms. Ha Vu, the co-founders of "Reading Space" - a chain of free libraries serving the community. Seeing Cu's passion for books, on July 24, 2015, Ms. Le Nga and the others decided to establish a reading space managed by him, called "Hope Reading Space".

He shared that the early days of establishing the reading space brought him tears of joy and happiness. His legs couldn't freely take him wherever he wanted, but books were his teachers and friends, helping him travel far and wide. However, there were also certain difficulties, such as his inability to assist readers in finding materials, obtaining library cards, or signing the borrowing and returning log. Some days, the number of readers reached 40. His entire family became librarians, serving the readers, with his mother also taking care of his daily needs. Not wanting to disappoint anyone, he felt happy to have so many people come to his house to chat and read. He even kept the reading space open until 9 PM…

Later, he developed a more scientific plan for operation. During the summer break, the reading space would be open every day of the week, while during the school year, it would be open on weekends from 4 PM to 6 PM. He formed a volunteer team of students with a passion for books to support the "reading space." From then on, the "Hope Reading Space" operated more effectively.

I admire him not only for his resilience in overcoming adversity to live a fulfilling life, but also for his kind heart and willingness to share with the community. He used a television, a gift from benefactors, as a computer monitor to raise funds for hundreds of libraries of all sizes across the country, providing free services to the community, especially people with disabilities.

Mr. Cu and readers at the "Hope Reading Space" - PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR

Connecting with love

Knowing that Nguyen Lan Huong (from Dong Hung district, Thai Binh province, who was paralyzed from a young age after a bout of polio) shared his passion for reading, and to prevent Huong from having to travel to his house to read, he suggested to Ms. Le Nga and Mr. Thien Tung that they continue to open a "Reading Space of Faith" for Huong. Word spread, and he then directly raised funds and books to establish a "Reading Space of Dreams" for his friend Tran Thi Muot, who was born with a disability, in Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province. Then there was the "Vu Long Reading Space" in Cam Giang district, Hai Duong province (Long is an 8-year-old boy with congenital spinal muscular atrophy)...

He took the initiative to connect people with each other and established the "Hope Reading Space Club". His "Project to build community libraries managed by people with disabilities" received support from many philanthropists. From there, reading spaces for people with disabilities were established one after another. By 2024, the "Hope Reading Space Club" had 32 reading spaces nationwide, with 28 of them managed by people with disabilities.

The creation of reading spaces has contributed to making the lives of people with disabilities more meaningful, helping them confidently integrate into society and overcome feelings of inferiority; at the same time, it has spread a reading culture in the community, especially since the love of reading among young people today is influenced by many factors such as the internet, online games, audiobooks, and e-books. Ha Cu has instilled faith in life and a never-give-up spirit in young people through the pages of books, imbued with the color of hope.

With the support of his family and society, and through his own efforts and many beneficial activities for the community, Do Ha Cu received a commendation as an exemplary young person with disabilities honored in the "Shining Vietnamese Resilience" program in 2020; a commendation for achievements in social welfare and active participation in community activities, contributing to the cause of building socialism and defending the Fatherland in 2020 from the Prime Minister; the 2019 Reading Culture Development Award from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and many other commendations and honorary awards.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/do-ha-cu-nguoi-gieo-hy-vong-185250613121959904.htm