Unicorns and Haircuts
For the past five months, Heartprint’s community center has been home to a remarkable Disability Support Worker named Nott.
Nott works closely with a very special group we have dubbed The Unicorns—13 young individuals aged 4 to 21, each with unique challenges and varying degrees of disabilities or learning difficulties. These young people, already part of the broader Heartprint community, sometimes need just a little, or in some cases, a lot of extra help. The program's goal isn’t just about support; it’s about inclusion—ensuring that every child is fully integrated into the community, learning to contribute, and gaining the confidence to do more than their families and local society might generally expect.
Yes, one of the original challenges for many of these young people is that their families, often out of love and habit, do things for them rather than teaching them how to do things for themselves. Nott and the Heartprint team work together to shift this mindset, helping the Unicorns learn new skills that promote independence through education, adventurous experiences, and, eventually, finding their place in the world at large.
Take Dara, for example. He has a hearing disability, and in a previous Heartprint newsletter, we highlighted how he wore a homemade hearing aid—a device pieced together with a small voice box and regular headphones. His initial appearance made him a target for teasing and occasional bullying, which our team immediately quelled.
One of the culprits was a boy called Virak. He has been part of Heartprint since he was five— before the Community Centre even existed. In the early days, he was known for bossing other kids around, name-calling, and being a bit of a bully. Though he improved over time, his interactions weren’t always kind, including with Dara.
That changed one day during an inclusive learning exercise where all the kids (Including non-Unicorns, like Virak) pretended to be on an airplane. We did this to encourage learning about other countries while giving the kids a sense of travel and adventure. On this particular day, they carried handmade passports, checked in, took their seats, and got ready for take-off. Virak and Dara ended up sitting in the last row of the “plane.” As they leaned back during takeoff —too far, it turns out—they both tumbled backward in a tangle of arms and legs. The room went silent, waiting for Virak’s reaction. Then, both boys burst into uncontrollable laughter to everyone's surprise and joy. From that moment on, they have been fast friends. Virak finally saw Dara not as someone different but as just another kid like him, falling over backward in class and laughing about it.
And we realized that Virak had changed from being that bit of a bully to someone unafraid to show his great big heart. He has become one of the kids who effortlessly help our Unicorns meld into the overall Heartprint activities.
Recently, Nott put some extra focus on another boy, Seth, who had just joined the program. He had rarely left home and had very little confidence. Wanting to help him feel more confident in going out - and begin more inclusion efforts in smaller settings, she arranged a small outing—a trip to the barbershop. Simple to most of us, but not to our Heartprint kids. She invited Dara and, recognizing his leadership and empathy, also asked Virak to come along.
None of the boys had ever had a professional haircut before. As they sat in the salon chairs, watching their reflections, excitement built. Seeing their enthusiasm, the young barber was so touched by their joy that he insisted on cutting their hair for free. While Heartprint declined to let him go unpaid, they agreed on a compromise—covering half the cost.
The results were powerful. The boys kept running back to the mirror, amazed at their transformed appearances. It wasn’t just about looking different but feeling different. A simple haircut gave them a newfound sense of confidence and belonging.
Now, of course, the other kids want to go to the salon, and some of the girls have even suggested a trip for manicures—a negotiation still in progress!
Expanding Their World
The Unicorns are an integral part of the Heartprint community, and while they participate in general activities, they also have unique experiences. For example, they recently had an outing to the Angkor Park temples - many of them for the first visit - and had a picnic under some of the gorgeous trees in the park.
At Heartprint, inclusion isn’t just a word—it’s a commitment to ensuring every child, no matter their abilities, has the opportunity to grow, learn, and be a valued part of the community. With Nott’s dedication and the continued support of organizations like Community Living Australia, we look forward to seeing many more moments of growth, discovery, and transformation.
As always, thank you for what you do to make all of this possible.
Your Heartprint Team
IMPORTANT NOTE:
*Nott was born in Battambang and grew up with Green Gecko, an NGO which used to be active in Siem Reap. She has worked and trained in both Cambodia and Australia. Nott brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the Heartprint community. We are grateful for the generosity of the Community Living Australia (CLA) Board for approving the recommendation of The Community Living Australia Client Advisory Board to the CLA Board to give a donation to cover Nott’s salary, allowing our in-house program to evolve.