For 14-year-old Boi, football is about more than scoring goals. It is about friendship, belonging and finding the confidence to make himself heard.
The ball moves between the boys’ feet. There is laughter, the occasional shout, and the familiar excitement of a game among classmates. Boi is right there with them, enjoying the game as much as anyone else.
Ask him what makes him proud of himself, and his answer is simple: he never gives up.
At 14, Boi enjoys playing football with his classmates and chatting with friends. He is sociable, cheerful and eager to take part in class activities. To those who know him, he is the kind of friend who makes a game enjoyable and does not hold a grudge when things do not go his way.
But there is another side to Boi’s story that is less visible on the football pitch.
When he was young, Boi experienced a high fever followed by seizures, which affected his memory. Since then, learning has often required more time and effort for him than for his classmates. Lessons designed for the average pace of a class can be difficult to follow, and he sometimes needs additional explanations to understand what is being taught.
Yet he keeps trying.
When he does not understand something, Boi actively asks his teachers for help. At home, his older sister is one of the people he relies on most. At school, his homeroom teacher supports him in his learning. Around him is a network of people who help him navigate challenges that are not always apparent to others.
For Boi, however, being supported is only part of the story. He also wants to participate, contribute and be recognised for what he can do.
That opportunity came through 2026 Young Mind Camp, a World Vision-supported initiative that gives children opportunities to learn together, exchange ideas, express their views and build the confidence to participate in issues that matter to them. Rather than simply being listeners, children are encouraged to share their own perspectives and learn from one another. The theme for the 2026 Young Minds Camp is "Child-led Actions, Mobilization and Partnerships", with a specific focus on climate change and its impact on children, youth, and communities.
For Boi, the experience offered an opportunity to step forward in a different way.
One moment stands out in his memory from Young Mind Camp: standing with a microphone in his hand, speaking to his peers and mentors about a picture he had drawn.
Boi is drawing a painting about his father's challenge at work, 2026 Young Mind Camp in Da Nang.
The theme was “Overcoming Storms”.
For Boi, the subject was deeply personal. His father is a fisherman, and much of the family’s livelihood depends on the uncertain income he brings home from the sea. When storms hit, fishing becomes more dangerous and the family’s financial security more uncertain. Boi worries about his father whenever he ventures out to sea, knowing that the work his family relies on also exposes him to unpredictable weather.
In his drawing, Boi portrayed his father aboard a small boat, rocking precariously on the distant, open sea as a storm raged around him. Yet amid the towering waves and threatening skies, his father continued to face the storm bravely, determined to overcome it and return home. For Boi, this image represented more than the dangers his father encounters at work. It reflected the resilience he sees in the person who works hard to provide for their family, even when circumstances are difficult.
His father’s determination has become a source of strength for Boi, shaping how he approaches challenges in his own life. He hopes other children will draw courage from the people they admire, just as he does from his father.
Standing before his classmates and teachers, microphone in hand, to explain his drawing was a meaningful moment for Boi. It gave him the opportunity to share his worries for his father, express what his family’s struggles mean to him, and turn a deeply personal experience a message of hope: even when life feels like a storm at sea, we can find the courage to keep going.
His classmates have noticed a change, too.
Chi, who has known Boi since they entered Grade 6 together, describes him as friendly, gentle, cheerful and cooperative. Football is one of the things they enjoy doing together. But Chi has also seen Boi become more willing to open up.
Following Young Mind Camp 2026, Boi began sharing more about himself, his interests and the everyday experiences that matter to him. Chi noticed that his friend seemed more confident and more decisive in expressing himself.
“He has grown,” Chi reflects.
For Boi, this growth is not about becoming someone different. It is about feeling more comfortable being himself in front of others.
He has words of gratitude for the people who have helped him along the way: his father and sister, who care for him at home; his homeroom teacher and classmates, who support him at school; and the school leaders who have helped him with his learning.
But Boi is also clear about what children need from adults.
He hopes they will pay more attention to children and create more opportunities for them to participate in activities. His request is a reminder that children need more than protection and support. They also need spaces where their ideas are welcomed, their experiences are taken seriously and they can contribute alongside their peers.
For Boi, the journey is ongoing. Learning may still take time, and challenges will not disappear overnight. But he continues to ask questions, build friendships and step forward when there is something he wants to say.
On the football pitch, he is a boy who enjoys playing with his friends. In front of a microphone, he is a boy with a story to tell.
Boi is sharing his thoughts with his classmates.
And in both places, he is learning that his voice deserves to be heard.
Boi is one of hundreds of children supported by World Vision through activities promoting child development and inclusion, part of the interventions under ECAID funded by the European Union — a project dedicated to empowering children with autism or intellectual disabilities to learn, connect, and thrive alongside their peers.
Boi's Story Video