Ho Thi Lang, 29, a resident of Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang, has overcome her disability to confidently set up her own handicraft business, paper quilling art. Although she is disabled, she still seems energetic and optimistic.

Ho Thi Lang won the first prize for her quilled paper pictures at the 2023 start-up idea competition.

Lang was born into a poor family with 3 sisters. At the age of 6, she showed symptoms of bone and joint pain, disproportionate shoulders, and crooked spine. In addition, she had a spinal tumor that grew larger over time. She was labelled a hunchback after being diagnosed with scoliosis so her doctors recommended surgery at a total cost of nearly VND 200 million. However, her family could not afford to pay for her surgery so that she had to live with her disease.

In 2014, Lang went online to learn about the art of paper quilling and then decided to go to Ha Noi to study this paper craft while working as a worker to earn money to support her parents due to not wanting to be a burden to her family. Quilling is an art form that uses strips of paper or ribbon, which are rolled, bent, twisted and then glued on a surface, to create a design. Quilling is an exciting paper technique where you can create flowers, patterns and decorations using paper strips. Lang said, quilling is a popular art that imbibe creativity among the people but such work requires lot of perseverance, creativity and an eye for detail.

In 2019, after mastering the quilling techniques, Lang returned to her hometown in Hoa Vang District. She was then introduced by her relatives to a local vocational training centre to work as a vocational teacher for people in a similar situation to herself . At that time, she could not turn her start-up idea into reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in difficulties in sourcing paper materials and no orders from customers.

In 2022, with financial support worth VND 10 million from philanthropists in response to appeals made by the Hoa Phuoc Commune Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union, Lang boldly borrowed additional 20 million VND from her friends and relatives, as well as used her family’s house to start her own home-based handmade greeting card business.

Lang said that, in addition to selling cards at home, she also sells her products online with nature and human designs. Making her product different from competitors, she has received a lot of orders from customers who want to use her cards as gifts for their partners, friends, and relatives. Most recently, Lang has received an order from Secretary of Hoa Vang District Party Committee To Van Hung with his order volume of 1,000 birthday cards.

Lang realized that paper quilling art is suitable for people with disabilities. Hence, she extended a helping hand to people in a similar situation to herself after stabilizing her business. She is willing to provide wholehearted support for vocational and skills training for those who want to learn this art. She has a strong desire to expand her greeting card facility in the future to receive more trainees to help them make money with paper quilling art, as well as help them enjoy full lives within their communities, so that they are not a burden to their family and society. Every morning, Lang rides an electric bike to work at the vocational training center for the disabled, and she comes back home at noon to take care of her children.

Mrs. Le Thi Yen, the Chairwoman of the Hoa Phuoc Commune Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union, said that Lang’s quilling products won the first prize at the 2023 start-up idea competition themed ‘Economic development associated with increasing trade value for local products’.

“Lang is disabled but she is energetic and optimistic. She has overcome her disability to rise up to life's challenges for a better future. By doing a business with paper quilling art, she has not only created employment for herself  but also created job opportunities for many people with disabilities in the locality. Besides, Ms. Lang is always willing to help others through sharing the quilling techniques to those who need help so her act is very precious," said Mrs. Yen.

Reporting by KHANH HUYEN – translating by H.L