People with disabilities have a high unemployment rate in the society. The main reason is thought to be that they are lack of adaptation to jobs.

Chairman of the Association Nguyen Hoang Long, (standing, left) at the Lien Chieu District-based sewing facility

In an effort to help the disabled in Da Nang find stable jobs to enable them to cover their living expenses, the Da Nang Association for Supporting Orphans and the Disabled has established a sewing facility for the disabled on Hoang Van Thai in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Khanh Nam Ward.

Chairman of the Association Nguyen Hoang Long said many support programmes for the disabled have been implemented across the city over recent years. However, all of them have been focusing on presenting gifts and money or raising funds for people with disabilities.

He realised that giving money to the disabled is not the best way to help them well integrate into the community and cover their living costs for long term.

Therefore, the facility, which was officially opened in February, was built with the help of the Association staff in raising funds from generous domestic organisations and individuals. It sits on the site of an old preschool in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward.   

Workers at the sewing facility are young members of the Association, and trainees from the municipal Career Orientation Centre for People with Disabilities.

In order to train sewing skills for the Association’s members, in late 2019, some of the Association’s members were sent to a sewing facility in Lang Son Province to learn about some basic sewing and embroidery skills. After that, the sewing skills of the disabled have been gradually improved.

The facility staff are divided into 2 groups. One group specialises in sewing car towels, whilst the remainder sew such high-class products as sun protective jackets, T-shirts, etc.

The facility has received many orders from the Truong Hai Automobile Joint Stock Company, the Da Nang Technical University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and some preschools and primary schools citywide.

“Each disabled worker can earn an average monthly income of between 1 and 2 million VND”, Mr Long said.

On 24 June, the Association in collaboration with its chapter in An Khe Ward opened a garment shop at 548 Tran Cao Van Street, creating more job opportunities for local disabled people. It produces a month average of 3 tonnes of car towels.

By XUAN SON - Translated by M.D