The disabled young man overcame his fate.

Trieu Hong Ho Em (born in 1989, residing in Long Dien commune) is a testament to the saying: "Physical disability is not a barrier, but an opportunity to discover the hidden strength within each person." With skillful hands and unwavering willpower, this 35-year-old man has transformed simple bamboo and rattan into a source of livelihood, supporting his elderly mother and kindling hope amidst a life full of challenges.

Determined to find their own path

At the age of 12, a terrible polio fever robbed Ho Em of his health, causing his legs and arms to gradually atrophy. Mrs. Vo Thi Anh (born in 1952, Ho Em's mother) said that she is still haunted by those fateful days: “That year, the high fever, not treated in time, caused my son's legs to atrophy and weaken. Not only his legs, but his arms also shrank, and his neck could no longer move freely like a normal person. Almost every day my son suffered from neck pain, and he moved slowly, needing the help of his hands. Since then, my son has had to put aside his studies, even though he was quite good at school before. Seeing my son, who was once active and healthy, suddenly fall seriously ill, leaving behind so many unfulfilled dreams!” The physical pain and the forced abandonment of his education were a huge shock for Ho Em. However, the young man refused to give up. With his mother's constant encouragement, he gradually regained his spirits, determined to find his own path in life and not let his disability stand in his way.

Trieu Hong Ho is proud that she can work to support herself and her elderly mother.

In 2010, while searching for meaning in life, Ho Em began experimenting with crafting bamboo handicrafts. He recounted: “The more I worked, the more passionate I became, discovering I could find joy in it. So I devoted myself to learning and researching how to make them every day. Seeing how beautiful my bamboo handicrafts were, friends offered to buy them and introduced me to customers, helping me earn extra income. I never expected my handicrafts to be so popular. Since then, I've been dedicated to this craft until now.”

Bamboo crafting - a source of livelihood and passion.

Ho Em's products are incredibly diverse, ranging from simple pushcarts and elaborate flower pots to large model buildings and whimsical animals. He can create any product according to customer requests, as long as he has enough time for research and crafting. The value of his products is also very flexible, from 30,000 VND for small items to over 4 million VND for large products such as a miniature villa delivered to foreign clients. To increase productivity and meet market demand, Ho Em also built his own bamboo cutting machine and recently invested in a larger cutting machine costing over 5 million VND, demonstrating his seriousness and unwavering dedication to his craft.

Behind every exquisite product made by Ho Em is the tireless spirit of her mother. Their small house is always filled with processed bamboo. Ho Em expressed: “My mother is the one who searches for and selects the best bamboo to cut down so I can pursue my chosen craft. Bamboo used for handicrafts must be mature to ensure product quality. Not only that, she also helps me trim, shape, and split each bamboo stick and dry them in the sun. Seeing my mother, who has spent more than half her life working hard for me, I only know to tell myself not to give up, to strive to be better than yesterday to repay her!” Mrs. Anh's love and selfless sacrifice are a great source of motivation, giving Ho Em the strength to overcome all difficulties in life and work.

In the current economic climate, Ho Em's customer base has seen a slight decrease, but the occasional orders are still enough to support her and her daughter's daily lives. Sharing about her income, Ho Em said: "Previously, I earned over 5 million VND per month selling products, but now it's only about 2-3 million VND per month."

Despite receiving numerous job offers from companies specializing in providing handicrafts for tourist destinations, Ho Em declined them all. The reason wasn't just his health, which prevented him from traveling long distances, but also his reluctance to leave his elderly mother alone at home. This decision further demonstrates his filial piety and profound sense of responsibility towards his parents. Even more commendable, when many acquaintances from his neighborhood sought him out to learn the craft, he readily agreed and taught them for free. However, many gave up halfway through, finding it too difficult. Ho Em shared: "Making bamboo handicrafts requires passion and creativity."

Trieu Hong Ho Em was awarded a certificate of merit by the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Disabled People and Orphans for her outstanding achievements in overcoming difficulties and excelling in her studies and work during the period 2016-2020; and a certificate of merit by the People's Committee of An Giang province for her achievements in "Studying and following the thoughts, ethics, and style of Ho Chi Minh " during the period 2016-2021.

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/chang-trai-khuyet-tat-vuot-len-so-phan-a423603.html