In spite of her disabilities and hardships in life, Ms Nguyen Thi Thu, 53, from Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang, has become a bright example of tremendous determination and efforts for the disabled to follow.

Ms Thu (in ‘ao dai’) presenting awards to the participants at last year’s exchange event with the disabled

Apart from support herself, the string-willed woman has created job opportunities with stable incomes for local job-seekers.

Born in a very poor family, Thu underwent unforgettable hardship and misery during her childhood. Still worse, the needy girl unexpectedly became paralyzed sparked by a high fever at the age of only 7. She was rushed to many medical establishments for treatment, but any great efforts made by her beloved parents were completely in vain.

Encouragingly, Thu’s father took the trouble to take his unfortunate daughter to school by old bike.

At that time, discriminations against those with disabilities was rampant. However, she did not show any signs of being afraid of communicating with others due to inferiority complex about her unfortunate fate. Instead, Thu tried to pursue her academic dream, and she was respected by her classmates for her outstanding study results at school.

Having graduated from the junior high school, Thu put aside a dream of pursuing her studies at a public senior high school so as to earn money for the support of her whole family. However, given her ardent fondness for learning, the young woman took pains to go to a night-time continuing education class on crutches.

In the daytime, the needy girl earned a little money from selling bread and knitting sweaters.
Encouragingly, Thu also spent much time learning English, computer and business administration skills.

In 1989, Thu’s family started up its own small-scale bakery, and despite moving around on crutches, Thu was actively engaged in bread making and consuming processes. 

In 2000, Thu fulfiled her target of building a big house on Le Van Hien Street, and afterwards, she opened her own bakery named Thanh Thu, which employed a total of about 10 labourers.

Over the past years, the Thanh Thu Bakery has seen a high consumption of its products thanks to their reasonable prices and good quality.

Apart from possessing good business administration skills, Thu has been actively involved in meaningful social activities.

Holding the post of the Head of the municipal Disabled Women’ Club, Thu annual donates nearly 10 million VND to a programme during which the children of the club members are given financial assistance to pursue their academic dreams.

In particular, the kind-hearted woman has paid special attention to support activities for the disabled.

Every year, the club launched activities highlighting the long-lasting national tradition of ‘when drinking water, think of its source’ through offering incense at local martyr’s cemeteries, presenting gifts to heroic Vietnamese mothers, and giving support to social policy families.