TOWARDS THE 1ST PATRIOTISM EMULATION CONGRESS OF KHANH HOA PROVINCE, PERIOD 2025 - 2030: Connecting love for people with disabilities

From his own circumstances and determination, with more than 15 years of association work, Mr. Dinh Cong Thanh - Head of the Organizing Committee to establish the Association for the Protection of the Disabled in Dien Dien Commune (formerly the Association for the Disabled in Dien Khanh District) has "sowed hope" for the less fortunate.

"Giving fishing rods" to the disabled

Late afternoon one day in early October, we visited the family of Mr. Dinh Cong Thanh - Head of the Steering Committee for the establishment of the Association for the Protection of the Disabled in Dien Dien Commune (Hamlet 2, Dien Dien Commune). In the small house, he and the members were enthusiastically discussing the plan of activities of the committee after its official establishment.

Mr. Thanh (left) discussed with Mr. Nguyen Sau about coordinating to open a sewing class for members.

Receiving us with a gentle smile, Mr. Thanh said that he was born with poor health, often crying, the whole family had to take turns holding and carrying him on their shoulders all day. Because of that, his spine gradually curved without anyone knowing, leaving him with a lifelong scoliosis. His childhood was associated with constant back pain; moving around and doing daily activities were very difficult. Therefore, Mr. Thanh understands the hardships of people in the same situation and spends most of his time helping people with disabilities to overcome.

For more than 12 years of operation, Mr. Thanh and members of the Association of People with Disabilities of Dien Khanh district (old) has connected and mobilized many domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to sponsor many members to participate in vocational training projects, such as: Producing bamboo chopsticks, carving fine art wood, building prefabricated houses, supporting car repair tools, producing fine art screws, learning sewing, making cakes... and providing financial assistance to create jobs. In addition, the association also carries out many social charity works, such as: Mobilizing sponsorship for wheelchairs, rocking chairs; coordinating to build houses for people with disabilities... The total value of the association's annual volunteer activities ranges from 300 million VND to nearly 1 billion VND. In the first 6 months of 2025 alone, the association mobilized more than 600 million VND.

Mr. Thanh with the certificates of merit and awards he received.

Mr. Nguyen Sau - member of the Steering Committee for the establishment of the Association for the Support of People with Disabilities in Dien Dien commune shared: “For more than 12 years as Chairman of the Association for People with Disabilities, Mr. Dinh Cong Thanh has always been enthusiastic and dedicated to the work of the association. Despite his limited health, he has always been at the forefront of everything, from completing the association's operating procedures to mobilizing funds, taking care of the lives of members, especially mobilizing support for vocational training, creating jobs, and increasing income for members. Thanks to Mr. Thanh's enthusiasm, the association is always united, operating actively and effectively."

Spread the will to live

To create a legal basis and promote the effectiveness of the Association of the Disabled in Dien Khanh district (old), Mr. Thanh has completed the dossier to send to the competent authority to establish the Steering Committee for the establishment of the Association for the Support of the Disabled in Dien Dien commune, with 72 members from communes and wards such as: Dien Dien, Dien Khanh, Suoi Hiep, Dien Lam, Dien Tho, Nha Trang... Although the merger of administrative units has more or less affected the activities of the members, social security activities are still maintained regularly by Mr. Thanh and the members of the committee. From September to now, the committee has mobilized donors to donate 28 wheelchairs to the disabled; coordinated with Dien Khanh Vocational College to open sewing courses for 10 students; mobilized donors to organize the Mid-Autumn Festival for children of members and gave 35 gifts, each worth 700,000 VND to children of members and poor households...

Mr. Thanh (second from right) gives gifts and scholarships to children of members.

Although he is 74 years old, Mr. Thanh still diligently "goes to every alley, knocks on every door", meets members, mobilizes kind-hearted people and donors to join hands to support the disadvantaged. That heart and dedication have helped him become a reliable support for many disabled people in the area. In association activities, he encourages members to share, help each other overcome inferiority complexes, and boldly integrate into the community. Thanks to that, many people who were previously shy are now confident in participating in cultural and sports activities... creating a warm, friendly and joyful atmosphere in the disabled community. Mr. Thanh confided: “What I hope most is that all members can be confident, independent, and not feel inferior about their disabilities. As long as they feel happy and useful, I think my efforts and those of the members are worthwhile. I also recommend that competent authorities continue to invest in infrastructure serving people with disabilities; support health insurance for people with mild disabilities, helping them reduce the economic burden when they are unfortunately sick; call on benefactors to support prosthetic legs for some people with leg disabilities...”.

With his contributions, for many years, Mr. Dinh Cong Thanh has been commended by the government and associations at all levels for his outstanding achievements in association work and the movement to help people with disabilities rise up.

Khanh Ha

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202510/tien-toi-dai-hoi-thi-dua-yeu-nuoc-tinh-khanh-hoa-lan-thu-i-giai-doan-2025-2030-ket-noi-yeu-thuongcho-nguoi-khuyet-tat-85754ed/