The Da Nang Blind Association and its member organizations are paying special attention to vocational training, job creation, and loan support for economic development for their members, thereby, helping people with visual impairment overcome adversity, facilitating economic gains for them, as well as contributing to effective implementation of the city’s social welfare policy.

The Municipal Blind Association now has 686 members, of whom, 342 are women, and they are living in 40 wards and communes across the city. In recent times, associations at all levels in the city have done a good job of providing good care, vocational training, loan support, and job introduction for their members. People with visual impairment in the city have been facilitated to access loan totaling VND 732 million from the National Employment Fund for economic development, and escape from poverty.

Forty year-old Nguyen Ngoc Rin, a resident of Hoa Tien commune, Hoa Vang District, and his wife, 32 year-old Duong Thi Phuong Nga are one of the members who effectively use loans from the National Employment Fund for economic development.

This couple’s family was facing difficult life circumstances due to economic adversity. The Municipal Blind Association created the most favorable conditions for them to learn acupressure massage and get access to a loan worth more than VND 90 million from the National Employment Fund to open a spa in Hoa Tien Commune. Till date, their facility has operated effectively, bringing stable income to their family, as well as creating job opportunities for 4 blind people with monthly salary of more than VND 5 million on average per person.

Similarly, members of 40 year-old Nguyen Thi Nga's family living in Hoa Thuan Dong Ward, Hai Chau District have suffered from blindness across 3 generations. Previously, her family lived in poverty, so she earned money from selling lottery tickets to support her parents. After joining the Blind Association of Hai Chau District, she was given the opportunity to learn massage techniques and was helped with a new house. Currently, Ms. Nga is working at a massage facility under the Blind Association of Hai Chau District with monthly salary of VND 8 million.

In addition, the Associations of the Blind at all levels in the city have effectively launched the Piggy Bank campaign, and fundraising campaigns for Revolving Capital and Study Encouragement to support their members and disadvantaged children. From the above funding sources, the associations at all levels have facilitated 38 members to alternately get interest-free loan totaling more than VND 257 million. The Municipal Blind Association has used money from its accumulated production funds and cash donations from local agencies, units, and businesses to give gifts and financial support to its members with a total amount of more than VND 3.1 billion cost in 2023.

According to the Municipal Blind Association, associations at all levels in the city has provided skills courses for its members to improve their professional skills and apply effectively in their work. Currently, blind people are mainly trained in such occupations as acupressure massage, making toothpicks, brooms, and bamboo and rattan weaving. In 2023, a combined total of 13 officials and members of the Association have been facilitated to attend these courses.

At the same time, craft establishments and acupressure massage services under the Association have created employment opportunities for more than 100 bind people with monthly salary of VND 2 - 4 million.

Municipal Blind Association Chairwoman Le Thi Dieu Chau said that although life is still difficult, the Association’s members always strive to improve their material and spiritual lives, as well as help each other rise up in their lives.

In the coming time, the Association will continue its efforts to create the most favorable conditions for its members to attend vocational training courses suitable to them, as well help them get access to a loan for economic development, and teach Braille to them. Besides, heed will be paid to facilitating them to attend  training course how to use smartphones, and how to use computers so that they can find it easy to access the internet to improve their knowledge and find a suitable job.

Reporting by NGOC QUOC – Translating by H.L