Thanks to funding from the project, many people with disabilities have been able to participate in vocational training courses and find stable employment. Photo: Contributor
Touching the simple dream
Looking back over the past 10 years, the project's greatest achievement has been the realization of seemingly impossible things for the community of people with disabilities. The most prominent example is the story of the Can Tho City Deaf Club.
Previously, owning a motorbike driver's license was a dream for deaf people due to language barriers and the examination process. Ms. Huynh Ngoc Hong Nhung, President of the Association for the Support of People with Disabilities, Orphans, and Poor Patients in Can Tho City (Association of People with Disabilities), stated: “To help deaf people pass the driver's license examination, the Association of People with Disabilities collaborated with the Department of Transportation (now the Department of Construction of Can Tho City) to organize review classes using sign language videos and provide interpretation support. Thanks to this, 25 deaf people in Can Tho and 28 hearing-impaired people in neighboring provinces passed the A1 driver's license exam.”
That driver's license is not simply a piece of paper for transportation, but an affirmation that people with disabilities can fully take control of their lives if society provides them with equal opportunities.
In addition, the project successfully campaigned for the construction of 11 access ramps at government offices, health centers, and schools in Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy, Co Do, and Phong Dien districts, creating fundamental changes.
These ramps carry profound humanitarian significance, making it easier for wheelchair users to roll their wheelchairs into the workplace. This represents true integration, helping people with disabilities reduce the feeling of inconveniencing others when carrying out necessary administrative procedures.
In terms of livelihoods, the project provides practical "fishing rods." Through the Small Support Fund, more than 1,800 people in the Mekong Delta provinces and cities have been empowered to create stable incomes and cover their living expenses through models such as crab farming, purple onion cultivation, shoemaking, spa services, and fishing net making.
Ms. Huynh Ngoc Hong Nhung, President of the Association for the Support of People with Disabilities, Orphans, and Poor Patients in Can Tho City, presents livelihood loans to people with disabilities. Photo: CTV
Not just a beneficiary
The project's most enduring success lies not in its funding, but in the transformation of the mindset of those involved.
Mr. Nguyen Trinh Trung Truc, a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of People with Disabilities in Can Tho City, who has participated in the entire 10-year journey of the project, shared: “Before participating in the project, I was like many other people with disabilities, carrying within me feelings of inferiority and self-consciousness, and only longing to find a job to support myself. The training courses on business administration and leadership skills brought about a major turning point for me. I realized that I wasn't someone who needed help, but someone capable of contributing. This transformation helped me overcome my psychological barriers.”
Without changing his mindset, Truc transformed his knowledge into action by founding RTT Online Group - a digital marketing startup model with 50% of its staff being people with disabilities.
He is the most vivid example of how project beneficiaries have become creators of opportunities. For him, technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are the "extended arms" that help people with disabilities overcome mobility limitations and participate equally in the digital economy.
Sharing the same sentiment, Mr. Hoang Xuan Luyen, Vice Chairman of the Association of the Blind in Can Tho City, shared: “I will always remember the training courses on growing purple onions or the massage groups in Tran De and Vinh Chau communes. Previously, many blind people stayed confined to their homes, but since having capital, skills, and legal education, they have become much more confident. What I am most pleased about is not how much money people with disabilities earn, but that they have learned to confidently stand up and petition for policies and regulations related to themselves. People with disabilities are no longer afraid of crowds, no longer hesitant to communicate; this is a great spiritual revival.”
In particular, the project has left a strong mark in empowering women with disabilities. With over 2,300 women participating in capacity-building programs, the project has helped them overcome feelings of inferiority and rise above their circumstances. Mothers and sisters who have often faced disadvantages can now confidently lead meetings, create business plans, and assert their roles within organizations and society.
Ms. Huynh Ngoc Hong Nhung stated: “The project may end in time, but the flame of belief it ignited will burn forever. Because when people with disabilities believe in themselves and are given support by society, they will create miracles not only for themselves but also for the overall development of society. The Association of People with Disabilities will continue to implement and refine the established organizational governance standards, focusing on fundraising skills to ensure sustainable finances; continue to connect appropriate vocational training programs for people with disabilities, as well as organize and effectively operate funds to support economic activities. At the same time, we will implement in-depth peer counseling programs on mental health to help people with severe disabilities overcome feelings of inferiority.”
SWALLOW NEST
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/-thap-lua-niem-tin-cho-nguoi-khuyet-tat-a199308.html
Comment (0)