When Nay Djrueng, an ethnic Jarai from the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, was born without hands, feet, or shins, elders in the village labeled him a “curse.” Now, 26 years later, he’s reinvented himself as a blessing.

Before Djrueng, his brother was also born with limb abnormalities — a "curse" brought upon him by evil forces, the community claimed — forcing the family to bury the newborn alive in order to protect the village.

When Djrueng was born with similar abnormalities, the family decided they couldn’t handle repeating the traumatic ordeal and his grandmother and siblings decided to take him away from the village in order to eschew the scrutiny of their neighbors.

Though he was eventually reunited with his family, his parents couldn’t afford education for all eight of their children and decided he would be the one to miss out on attending school.

Instead, he’d wind up spending the majority of his childhood alone in a room, lonely and deprived of friends.

“One time when my brother was doing homework, I asked to try writing and later asked my parents to let me attend school,” Djrueng recalled.

His parents agreed and Djrueng was sent away to a boarding school where he learned to take care of himself and took his first steps towards a brighter future.

Passing the torch

Barring a few that bullied him to tears, Djrueng’s peers at school were overwhelmingly supportive and helpful. 

Throughout his education, he pursued performance art and, at one point, aspired to be a professional singer.

“On stage is where I feel the most comfortable and authentic,” Djrueng confessed.

After high school, Djrueng went on to attend college in Da Nang and, after graduation, moved to Ho Chi Minh City and began volunteering with ‘Tiep suc den truong’ (Education support), a scholarship program sponsored by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper to help underprivileged students.

The organization itself is important to Djrueng. He himself was a ‘Tiep suc den truong’ beneficiary in middle school.

“The scholarship motivated me during studies,” Djrueng said.

“It helped ease the struggle for me to get through my education and it’s time for me to pay that forward to the children from my village.”

Nay Djrueng (right), an ethnic Jarai in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, Vietnam who were born with limb abnormalities, poses with children in a volunteering trip. Photo: C.K. / Tuoi Tre

Demolishing obstacles

One of Djrueng’s primary focuses is eliminating the barriers that prevent disabled people from attending classes or being included in social activities.

To reach these goals, he holds discussions with other disabled people whenever he can to listen to their thoughts and needs.

“It is obvious that disabled people face struggles, especially in crowded spaces or on public transport,” said Djrueng.

“I feel low-spirited from time to time,” he said, adding that he often finds himself on the receiving end of condescending stares on the street.

“Yet I never cease to long for a day when family and relatives of disabled people stop being apprehensive and embarrassed of their loved ones, particularly because it does not help in changing an outsider’s perception.”

According to Djrueng, in order to demolish familial obstacles, families need to give space for disabled people to live independently and work to the best of their abilities.           

“For disabled people, confidence is the key to realizing dreams, contributing to society, and establishing themselves,” Djrueng said.

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