Choosing responsibility through strength and love
At a glance
Raised by a grandmother who deeply valued learning, Đễ later chose work to support his family—an honest form of courage and care.
Family
Đễ lost both parents within a short period and was raised by his grandmother in Tân Hưng, Long An. Although she had not had the opportunity to learn to read or write, she understood the value of school and worked to keep him connected to it.
Her belief in education became part of Đễ’s own sense of responsibility: to learn when he could, and to care for family when they needed him.
A changed path
Albrecht Fund supported Đễ for eleven months. Later, he made the difficult decision to leave school and work so he could contribute to his household.
That choice does not erase what he learned or reduce his story to an unfinished education. It reveals the complexity of young people’s lives and the weight that family decisions can carry.
A broader measure
Educational organisations must be honest about the fact that no pathway is perfectly linear. Supporting a student also means respecting their agency when circumstances lead them elsewhere.
Đễ’s strength is visible in care, work, and the seriousness with which he faced the responsibilities before him.
What this journey reminds us
“Success is not one route. Sometimes it is the dignity of choosing responsibility when life changes the map.”
From the archive
Moments from Nguyễn Văn Đễ's educational journey.
01Keep the pathway open