Ms. Hoa, Mr. Phu and students crochet at the facility.
Communicate with understanding
Ms. Hoa’s Hoan Moc establishment stands out with its colorful handmade items made of crocheted woolen threads. From key chains, bags, to hats, scarves… they stand out with their delicately and aesthetically coordinated patterns and colors. In the middle of that space, figures are meticulously working on each needle and thread, silently working on their handmade products.
Ms. Hoa has been knitting since she was a child. Around 2003, she was invited to be a vocational teacher for disabled children at an educational institution. After more than 2 years, she has a special affection for her students with both the sympathy of a teacher and the heart of a mother. The physically disabled students are very diligent, hard-working, bright, and learn very quickly. From then on, she thought of teaching vocational skills for free to the disabled.
In 2006, Ms. Hoa opened a free vocational training facility at home, exclusively for the disabled. Nearly 40 disabled students have had additional jobs and have been given opportunities from the knitting training facility for nearly 20 years. Coming to the class, students do not need to prepare anything, except the will to overcome adversity. Knitting materials are available, vocational training is free of charge and when they can make products, students are paid a fair wage for each product.
Ms. Hoa’s students are disabled, most of them are deaf. We asked her how she communicates with her students, she smiled: “I have a notebook, if I need anything I can discuss with them. But sometimes I just need to make a few gestures, they will understand because they have been together for a long time.”
Only after spending time watching the teacher and students communicate and work together did we have a truly satisfactory answer. That is, Ms. Hoa communicated with her heart and understanding. The working space was quiet and peaceful, but what the teacher and students communicated with was each glance exchanged, each smile conveyed. Yet, it created a communication full of love.
Ms. Hoa added that the students cannot hear or speak, but in return, their eyes are very agile. After watching her do it a few times, they can do it too. Working with her, some students have been with her since the very beginning, about 20 years ago, some for about ten years, everyone is persistent with the job. Each month, each person has a stable income of several million VND, depending on the number of products.
Come back whenever you need!
Nearly 20 years ago, Nguyen Hoang Phu, a deaf man, came to Ms. Hoa’s free vocational training class when he was a 17-year-old boy. Until now, Mr. Phu is still attached to Ms. Hoa’s facility, persistently pursuing the knitting profession. Thanks to his stable job, Mr. Phu can take care of himself and his family. Talking to us, Mr. Phu said: “Thanks to Ms. Hoa, Phu has a job, earning money to take care of his family. This job is suitable for conditions like Phu’s.”
As for Nguyen Thi Kim Ngoc, a 30-year-old deaf girl, she also spent 10 years learning and working in crocheting with Ms. Hoa. Ms. Ngoc is very hard-working, bright and skillful, making new crochet products. When reading the question about the job, Ms. Ngoc looked at Ms. Hoa with admiration and gratitude.
Mr. Phu, Ms. Ngoc and many other students have long considered Hoa Dan Moc as their second home, a warm home of love. In that home, Ms. Hoa always opens her arms to welcome her students. She said that many people who are working at her place, when they have other better jobs with higher income, not only them, but she is also happy. Happy because they have more opportunities to change their lives. But if they try but it is not suitable or not as expected, and they want to return to work at the facility, Ms. Hoa is very willing. She confided: "If the other job is no longer suitable, whenever needed, just come back, I am ready to welcome them."
The main output for the products of Hoa Dan Moc facility is home sales and especially participating in booths at fairs, festivals, cultural and tourism events... in Can Tho city and the Mekong Delta provinces. Because the facility's products always have access to new designs and shapes, in line with trends, they are accepted by the market. What Ms. Hoa wishes is to participate in more events and festivals to have the opportunity to sell, have more income, and maintain stable jobs for students.
Article and photos: DANG HUYNH
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/co-hoa-20-nam-lang-tham-day-nghe-mien-phi-cho-nguoi-khuet-tat-a194175.html
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