Station of Love: “Crossing the Fields” - Nay Djruêng’s 10-Year Journey of Volunteerism

At 10:00 a.m. on September 20, 2025, on VTV1, “Station of Love” introduces a special guest: Nay Djruêng, a Jrai man with disabilities from Gia Lai. Though born with the effects of Agent Orange, he has never stopped radiating optimism and dedication.

Born into a family of former guerrilla fighters at the Ea H’Drêh base during the resistance war, Djruêng and his siblings all suffered congenital deformities. No child in the village had ever been born with such unusual appearances. Fear and outdated customs   drove families to bury deformed infants alive  alive at that time. Djruêng’s elder brother was buried moments after birth, while his sister survived because her deformities were less severe. When Djruêng was born, an uncle bravely saved him from the same fate.

Without arms or legs and with dark skin marked by large birthmarks and deep-set eyes, it   seemed  his life was destined for darkness. Yet Djruêng rose with resilience, like a K’nia tree in the highlands.

He only began school at age 8,  and  every step forward cut  his knees, and left pus-filled wounds on his stumps when he attempted to hold a pen. Peers called him a “monster” and “oddity” ,  but  he used laughter and exuberance to blend in, eventually becoming a source of joy in his class. He later won second prize in the Krông Pa district’s “Public Singing Contest”, proving that the desire to live and express oneself is always stronger than physical limitations.

The day Djruêng brought home his acceptance letter to study Information Technology at a college in Da Nang  brought a burst of happinessto  his parents. Leaving the highlands, he entered the city not only to survive but also to give back.

Since 2014, Djruêng has launched several charitable projects, including “Supporting Students to School” and “Crossing the Fields”, which provide scholarships and gifts to disadvantaged students, support ethnic minorities, and assist vulnerable communities. Each school year, he returns to his hometown to inspire children to pursue their educational dreams.

He came up with the idea for “Crossing the Fields”   2014, when he returned home after studying away. He was deeply moved by the sight of Jrai and Bahnar children  trekking barefoot through muddy fields and long stretches of farmland just to reach school. In their clear yet weary eyes, he saw himself, the boy who once crawled up mountain slopes on all fours just to learn how to write.

He  knew that for a poor child in the highlands, holding onto the dream of attending school was no easy feat. Without books, clothes, or even spiritual encouragement, invisible barriers often crushed those dreams. Empathy drove  Djruêng  to mobilize  friends and benefactors, raising small scholarships and modest gifts to  give  to children at the start of each academic year.

Initially, the program offered only a few dozen basic gifts, including notebooks, new clothes, and a pair of sandals. However, the children’s sparkling eyes and radiant smiles became the driving force behind “Crossing the Field's” growth year after  year. Now, after a full decade, the program continues to accompany poor students in Gia Lai, providing hundreds of scholarships and keeping countless educational dreams alive.

His tireless efforts have made Nay Djruêng an inspirational figure for youth.

He is the recipient of the Volunteer Leadership Award (2020, 2023) from the Vietnam Volunteer Community; a consolation prize winner in the 2018 “Melodies of the Heart ” singing contest for people with disabilities; and the 2020 Top Inspirational Award, Youth Dedication to the Community, In “Station of Love” - Radiant Rebirth, audiences will hear Djruêng tell his own story of rebirth - from a child once fated to be buried alive to a young man who shines with optimism, resilience, and love.

The program airs at 10:15 a.m. today (September 20) on VTV1.