Cherishing dreams and hope

The handicraft group (belonging to the disadvantaged youth club of Hiep Hoa district) in Trung hamlet, Bac Ly commune attracts participation of 12 disadvantaged laborers from the districts of Hiep Hoa, Son Dong and Luc Ngan and some neighbor provinces of Vinh Phuc and Lang Son.

Members of the handicraft group in process of assembling earphones.

Hoang Thi Mien (born in 1990) at Duong Huu commune, Son Dong district has worked in this group for 2 months. Due to her congenital muscular dystrophy, she has to move with support of a plastic chair. She had applied for work in many places but she just got the head shakes. As informed about the handicraft group, Mien applied for work.

While rapidly assembling the earphones, Mien shared “I feel my life more meaningful when working here. I’ll try to learn and work hard to self- manage my life and support my family” .

Right after establishment of the disadvantaged youth club, Nguyen Duc Anh (born in 1984), Deputy head of the club surveyed to grasp the market demands and recommend the managing board to establish the craftsmen groups to create jobs for the club members.

All members of the craftsmen group are disadvantaged youth. Thanks to the gained profits and donation resources, the craftsmen groups can pay for living expenses of the members while reproducing.

Nguyen Duc Anh himself also suffers from disability since he was a kid; hence, he can understand difficulties of his peers. In order to have location for the group operation, he discussed with his family to use their house as the factory and accommodation for the members and he was supported by his family.

In addition, the managing board of the club has called for support in initial fund and seeking for consumption market.

Overcoming initial obstacles, the club members have become more skillful and gradually increased the productivity. Currently, the members are skillful at processing and assembling earphones, making bracelets and joss paper.

Seeking for opportunities to overcome the fate

According to Vu Chi Cong, Secretary of the Youth Union, Chairman of the Youth Federation of the district, establishment of the craftsmen groups not only helps the disadvantaged with a working and living place, it also provides disadvantaged youth with necessary knowledge and skills to be self-dependent in life.

To this end, the Youth Union and Youth Federation of Hiep Hoa district and the provincial disadvantaged youth club in the northern province of Bac Giang have mobilized a number of organizations and individuals to support the club.

In addition to proactively seeking job opportunities for its members, the members of the district’s disadvantaged youth club take initiatives in start-ups and creating jobs for themselves.

For example Nguyen Van Lam (born in 1984), Head of the Club starts up with grocery business. He earns from 3 to 4 million VND (129-172 USD) per month.

Although Nguyen Minh Nhat in Doan Bai commune is paralysed, he gained success in start up with trading hair via social network.

“The biggest concern of the club managing board is to seek stable and suitable jobs for the members and consumption markets for the products. I hope the club will continue receiving accompanying and support of the enterprises and donors in job opportunities and goods consumption”, said Le Viet Thuan, Head of the provincial disadvantaged youth club.

USAID supports people with disabilities in Vietnam

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed to providing assistance to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities in seven priority provinces in Vietnam.

Children with disabilities celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with US envoy

US ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink called on children with disabilities in Hanoi to celebrate his first Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam.

USAID-funded project helps people with disabilities in Thua Thien-Hue

A number of headquarters of agencies, railway stations, hotels, and medical centers at communes and districts in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue have been upgraded over the past three years in order to improve their level of disability access. 

City: Over 5,000 walk for AO victims, people with disabilities

A charity walk was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 5 with the participation of more than 5,000 people to raise funds for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims and people with disabilities.

HCM City mass wedding realises dreams of couples with disabilities

A mass wedding for 50 couples, featuring people with disabilities, was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 21 by the “Dao Phat Ngay nay” (Buddhism Today) Fund from the city’s Giac Ngo Pagoda.

Tuyet Mai