Que Phong district, a mountainous area bordering Laos, is where Nhat's family lives. It is no exaggeration to say that almost every house has someone involved in drugs. 10-15 years ago, drugs were used as a form of recreation, to connect with friends, and to forget the boring life in the remote mountains.
Like many of his friends, Nhat started using drugs at the age of 14-15. Two involuntary rehabs couldn't make him quit using drugs. Because of his drug use, he was caught in a prison sentence. At the same time, he began to show symptoms of the HIV window period, such as fever, rash, swollen lymph nodes, etc.

After taking ARV*, he was advised by staff at Que Phong District Medical Center about methadone - a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. It took him two weeks to start taking the medication. When his health stabilized and he no longer needed drugs, he turned himself in to the district police for his sentence. Perhaps there is no one like this man who asked someone to ride him to the prison on a motorbike. 

Leaving the prison, he became a free man in its full meaning - not only legally free, but he was completely free from the confinement of drugs. Deeply understanding the meaning of freedom, Nhat found his life's passion.
Some of his friends were still imprisoned by drugs, struggling to find a way out. Their lives were sinking deeper and deeper into despair. Nhat wanted to find some way to help them.

“At that time, people did not know what HIV was like. They only knew that if they were infected, they would surely die, and if they came close to someone living with HIV, they would be infected. No one dared to get close to people who live with HIV. I have a friend; at his dying moment, no one in his family or parents dared to come close, let alone take care of him. I can't forget the feeling I had when I held that friend's hand and heard his last words.”
Nhat choked up, "But people like that are still lucky, they could still say their last words before leaving this life. Sometimes, I got a call saying that someone had died of a drug overdose, and when I arrived, they were just a soulless body.”

“At that time, I had a bit more knowledge about HIV than everyone else because I learned through books, newspapers, and official information sources. If everyone understood, then no such painful things would happen again. Having lived with HIV and used drugs for 12 years, I understand their pain and despair, and I hope there is a way to help them."
With that determination, Nhat went to the district medical center to apply for a job. Everyone at the center knew and introduced him to the Sao Va group. At that time, the group had just been founded. The group leader trusted Nhat and assigned him to be the group's deputy. When joining the group, he participated in training sessions implemented by the Saving the Future project to improve his knowledge and skills to reach out and care for people who use drugs and people who live with HIV. He and his group have been implementing communication activities, consultation, referral, and distribution of harm reduction items that support people who use drugs and people who live with HIV in Que Phong district, Nghe An province. 

Talking about his journey to reach out to and support young people under the Saving the Future project, Nhat shared that that journey was much more challenging and needed more perseverance than supporting the community of older people who use drugs and people who live with HIV. As an experienced outreach worker, Nhat once tried to apply the method when reaching out to older clients with young people under 25, but that approach did not work. At the age of 16-24, the young do not want to disclose their condition; they just want to hide it because they are afraid of many things and partly because of the lack of awareness. They do not fully understand the negative impacts of drug use on health, nor do they grasp the effects of prevention and harm reduction measures.

“There are many people who haven’t fully understood, whether it is the first time they have been to the group, or they have been to the group many times, or I have to come to their house to explain. It's a bit funny to say that "Being handsome is not as important as having a thick face.". I have come to their house many times, and every time I come, I bring enthusiasm and sympathy to clients. If it doesn't work in a day or two, then after weeks or months, the clients will understand our work, be ready to talk, and accept the referral to treatment.”
Nhat shared, "I used not to understand why the project could not support everyone and only targets at young people from 16-24 years old. Then I realized the meaning of the name "Saving the Future" and the characteristics of the age group that the project targets. In my viewpoint, the project is very crucial for that age group as it aims at intervening physically, emotionally, and mentally on substance use. At that age, young people are still immature and curious about everything. They are psychologically vulnerable, especially when using drugs, the brain is more affected. This has implications for their future lives when they are not listened to and do not receive direction and help.”

But after that affirmation, Nhat also firmly said, "That turning point shaped who I am today”.

The Sao Va group is known in the AIDS prevention of Nghe An province for its energy, enthusiasm, and responsibility. The number of patients admitted to methadone treatment has nearly doubled compared to the time the group was not in operation. The group has discovered and referred half of the district's newly infected patients to ARV treatment. In the group, Nhat is always trusted by everyone because of his enthusiasm, diligence, and effective work.

A family in the district has three children who used to be addicts. The second son was in and out of jail many times because of his involvement in drugs. The family was poor, the parents were old, the family seemed to be broken, and the children seemed to miss the future ahead. After Nhat advised, supported, and introduced to the family that methadone treatment could help people give up drugs, the whole family put aside their doubts and encouraged their son to take methadone. Nhat closely followed and supported the family, answered questions, and came to take the son to methadone treatment. Gradually, the son's health stabilized, and he stopped using drugs. Now, whenever Nhat or the Sao Va group members visit, the family treats them like family members.
That is just one of many cases that Nhat and his group have supported and referred to treatment in the Saving the Future project.
“There was a young man who used to be addicted, but now he has quit. Although he couldn't go back to school at that time, he is now working and preparing to get married.”

“I really appreciate those words of thanks. Every time I refer someone, whether with HIV or drug use, to treatment, I have a lot of feelings that are hard to describe. Really! I don't know if it can be called an achievement, but it makes me feel happy because all the effort I put in has paid off.”
“There were tears shed, but they were no longer tears of pain because of losing friends and brothers, but they were tears of happiness. What I appreciate the most is that the project has supported the right person in need, and that person has changed for the better. I am so happy.”
What Nhat and the Sao Va group are doing not only contributes to HIV/AIDS prevention in Que Phong district in general, but also brings smiles back to the faces of the people that the group supports in treatment and their family members. 

The work of a community outreach worker is challenging and requires perseverance and persistence. In Nhat, people can see passion, enthusiasm, and fierceness, which is not only in his words but also in his actions.
“There were times when I felt tired. There were days when I had to travel 50 kilometers, then days when I had to travel 100 kilometers, going to remote areas. Sitting on the side of the road, eating a piece of dry bread, I asked myself, “Do I feel tired? Yes! Do I feel bored? Yes! Can I take a break? No, I can’t!”
“If I give up, all my clients' trust in me will disappear. I don’t want to give up like that.”

He shared, "When the project ends and if the Sao Va group is no longer there, I am still ready to bring my knowledge to train others and apply it to support people who use drugs and people who live with HIV. I'm really happy because I get to live with my passion. No matter what my future life is like, working for the community will always go hand in hand with me.”
When interacting with Nhat, people can feel the fire of enthusiasm radiating from his warm heart. Most of all, people have a lot of pride and admiration for this resolute Thai guy with a generous and friendly style. Like the origin of the group's name, Nhat and the Sao Va group members are like life buoys. Even though they are small, every day, they quietly help those who are about to sink to have another chance, "saving the future" of young people who still have a long way to go.