(HBO)- We visited Thuan Hoa Social Protection Centre in Mai Chau in a rainy afternoon. A 20-square-metre room was teeming with clattering sounds of the fabric weaving loom and over 30 women were busily making brocade pieces in kaleidoscopic patterns. We heard that the Thuan Hoa Centre, and especially its developer Vi Thi Thuan, have been popular in Chieng Chau commune. Thuan is famous for her fortitude and compassion for developing traditional craft products herself and helping tens of women with disabilities work and have stable income.
Photo: Vi Thi Thuan guides and examines products made by women in Thuan Hoa
Social Protection Centre.
From tough
beginning
"Through local people, I myself went to mountainous villages to find women with
disabilities, and learnt that they came mostly from impoverished ethnic
minority and mountainous communes (under the programme 135). I persuaded their
parents to allow them to take on vocational training,” Thuan said. Receiving approval
from their families, they were jovial to leave villages to learn traditional
craft, she added.
"It’s hard to generate for able people, you know. But it is much harder to
create jobs for physically-challenged people as they often fall ill and need intensive
care when the weather changes. However, with strong desire to help women with
disabilities, I was determined to set up a "house” for my own and those women which
warm all up with the love and passion for brocade. I built the centre in 2008
with seven women with disabilities. In the third year (2010), I decided to extend
the centre’s reach to rural women who were unemployed and had no income,” Thuan
shared.
Thuan said her happiness is seeing these women working ardently every day and
together taking care of their home. These women have overcome a complex about
their disable situation as well as many early difficulties and produced dozens
of brocaded souvenirs branded "Hoa Ban” that are sold at airports, and tourist
attractions across the country.
The job has brought a better life for people at the
centre where each person earns an average monthly income of 2 million – 4
million VND.
…
Humanitarian journey…
After a decade working with the passion for brocade
and desire to help those in need, Thuan truly understood what she has been
through.
"But the luckiest thing in my life is I always have
family and sisters at the centre by my side, sharing and giving me courage,”
she said. "Coming from all walks of life, they came here to work and live
together.”
"After many years, I have built a place for them to
live together as a big family. At the same time, I taught them how to weave,
sew and make products but also let them grow on their own, so that they can
open their own business”, she noted.
"Thuan has always been an outstanding woman in the
district for many years, Chairwoman of the district’s Women’s Union Ha Minh Huan
said.
"With her compassion, she has helped and created jobs
for many other women in neighboring areas. She stood out in the campaign of
learning and following late President Ho Chi Minh’s moral and work style,” she
added.
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