Sharing love through handicraft products of people with disabilities in Da Nang
DNO - At the Center for the Elderly and People with Disabilities under the Da Nang Red Cross Society, meticulously sewn cloth bags, carefully embroidered paintings or small, pretty knitting straps are not only handmade products but also carry stories of the willpower and desire for community integration.
Mornings at the center, located at 53 Le Dinh Chinh Street, begin with the sounds of scissors, needles, sewing machines, and incense-making machines echoing from specialized vocational training classes.
In these classes, trainees come from many different backgrounds, most of whom have physical or intellectual disabilities. However, they still desire to integrate into the community and want to be independent through their own work.
Nguyen Truong Quan, one of the trainees, shared that he was previously assigned to the sewing class and then switched to crocheting. Every day, he manages to complete two small products such as straps or water bottle holders.
“I am very happy to learn new skills and hope that the products I make will be known by many people so that I can have a stable income” Quan said.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Tuyet, Acting Director of the Center for the Elderly and People with Disabilities, said that in addition to providing children with meals and accommodation, the center focuses most on vocational training and life skills development.
The center is currently opening classes in sewing, embroidery, incense making, and hand printing, aimed at giving people with disabilities the opportunity to learn a trade.
Aside from skills training, the center also guides them in self-care and fosters a work ethic. Thanks to that, many children are more confident and plan for their own future.
The center has been operating for 28 years and, during that time, it has provided free vocational training to 1,204 people with disabilities both in Da Nang and other provinces. Every year, many graduates confidently find suitable jobs and contribute to their family income.
Accompanying the center’s efforts, Ms. Tran My Quyen, Director of the Thinh Minh An Company, shared that each handmade product is not simply an item but also a story about determination and the desire to contribute and develop.
However, she acknowledged that such products compete with cheap industrial products. Therefore, she called on the community to join hands to support consumption of these products and spread the meaningful stories behind them.