A positive mindset can make overcoming adversity easier. In reality, it is easy to realise a fact that there are people who are unfortunately born with disabilities but most of them do not give themselves up to fate, and instead, they see it as a motivation to overcome adversity, rise up in life and become good citizens in the community.

Ms. Le My Ai (2nd on the right, back row) participates in a picnic with the children from the Da Nang Red Cross’s Charity Career Orientation Centre. Photo: D.G.H

Ms. Le My Ai, a female resident from Tien Son Commune, Tien Phuoc District, Quang Nam Province suffered from a laryngeal defect since childhood and faced many difficulties in communication. However, her life changed positively when a person introduced her to the Da Nang Red Cross’s Charity Career Orientation Centre to learn how to make incense and she has been here for nearly 10 years.

Since entering the centre, she has not only learned this popular craft but also spent much time to develop herself. Ai confided: “To become a good person, depending on many factors. In my opinion, living environment will determine 80-90% whilst the remaining 10-20% relies on innate personality.”

Despite certain difficulties due to her disability, Ai constantly strives to improve herself. In addition to making incense at the centre, she participates in the distribution of dietary supplements ALPHA LIPID by NEW IMAGE Viet Nam Co.,Ltd. to earn additional income. Encouragingly, she has turned from a timid person being afraid to communicate in front of crowds into a more confident woman.

Currently, the Da Nang Red Cross’s Charity Career Orientation Center is nurturing and providing free vocational training for 45 children, many of which are on sewing, manual printing, embroidery, beading, handmade incense processing. However, the children here still face many physical and mental difficulties and need the help of the social community. That is also the reason why Ai spends a lot of time taking care of them and supporting them as much as she can.

Also having studied sewing at the Da Nang Red Cross’s Charity Career Orientation Centre, Mr. Ngo Van Duc, the Head of Tu Tam Club based in Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District is also an energetic young man with disabilities. Fully aware of the difficulties facing disabled children in seeking suitable job after vocational training, Mr. Duc has dreamed of setting up a production facility employing them.

In the middle of 2019, Mr. Duc set up the Tu Tam facility in accordance with his aspirations. He said: “Tu Tam was established with the desire to create jobs and income for disabled people who have difficult circumstances and cannot apply for jobs. The establishment now offers 2 main occupations: producing incense and sewing. Accordingly, this facility specialises in supplying wholesale and retail of all kinds of incense and cinnamon for grocery stores. In order for the base to develop firmly, contributing to creating jobs for the disadvantaged, I hope everyone to support the consumption of our products”.

Although he is a disabled person and has a very difficult situation, Mr. Duc still regularly organises charity activities to help disabled children and disadvantaged friends in Da Nang and poor rural areas in the neighbouring province of Quang Nam.

In particular, the Centre for Nurturing Orphans in Da Nang at 291 Le Van Hien, Ngu Hanh Son District is a place where Duc often organises festive celebrations for children and gives them gifts. Recently, the Tu Tam Club cooperated with the center to organise fun activities for the children and gave them gifts including diapers, diapers, milk, new clothes, candy and other essential necessities at a total cost of more than VND10 million.

“The center is currently taking care of nearly 30 abandoned orphans aged from 15 days to 10 years, and several of them are children with hydrocephalus. “The ‘Mid-Autumn Festival for You’ programme, recently organised by the Tu Tam facility, aims to bring joy to the unfortunate children, and as a highly-practical way to alleviate some of the sadness facing them, said Mr. Duc.

Despite being burdened with many difficulties, both Mr. Ngo Van Duc and Ms. Le My Ai as mentioned above have strived to set bright examples of resilience to overcome difficulties for children with disabilities to follow their steps, thereby continue to rise themselves up in life and show more responsibility towards the community and society.

Reporting by DOAN GIA HUY - Translating by A.THU