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Streetkids - Source: Close Up
Three students who spent their early lives on the streets of Vietnam have been given a second chance in New Zealand.
Chin, Son and Kan used to be "scraggy little street kids", working 12 hours a day just to get their next meal, now they are enrolled at Auckland's N-TEC college, studying business, hospitality and English.
A local charity, Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, found the boys and rescued them, organising for them to travel to New Zealand, where they have been staying with host families.
The charity is currently helping about 1000 children.
"That includes kids who've been trafficked or who are living on the streets," spokesman Michael Brosowski said.
Life for the boys in New Zealand is very different; when they first arrived they were shocked to see a woman cutting the grass.
Travelling to school in a car is also something they have had to get used to.
In Vietnam, poor children rarely go to school, but the boys are thriving at the N-TEC College, which has covered the trio's tuition costs.
N-TEC College Director Isaac Phua said hosting the boys was the least they could do.
"A lot of people round world who could do with some help and we are doing it in a small way to help people," he said.
The boys say they are so grateful to be off the streets.
"I didn't want to be stealing something from other people on the streets anymore," one said.
Brosowski has been back in New Zealand to check the progress of the boys he helped save.
"We're thrilled, this is a goldmine for our young people, because it's not just study but a life-changing experience for me," Brosowski said.
Chin in particular is doing well and Phua is keen to see him stay in New Zealand and continue to further his education.
"If any university out there that can offer Chin a full scholarship, please get in touch with me, I'll be very pleased to meet up with you," he said.
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