The first international exchange trip of the My Future group (Ho Chi Minh City) opened another door to inclusion for teenagers with Down’s syndrome and intellectual disabilities.
Members of the My Future group at a cultural performance – Photo: P.Thu
In September just past, 7 members of the My Future group and some parents were in Bangkok (Thailand) to take part in the Mekong Sub-region Network of People with Disabilities conference. As a parent closely following the delegation, Ton Thi Kim Dien (mother of Le Hoai Yen Linh) said: “In terms of numbers, My Future is the smallest group, but it has quite outstanding activities. In particular, the young people may look naive, but they amazed many people when they performed the Trong Com drum dance and the Chicken dance”.
Dien also said that at the conference, Ha Thanh – a young person with Down’s syndrome – caused a great surprise when she shared her own story in English: “Last year, I studied in Melbourne (Australia). My friend David walked from home to school by himself. I wish I could do what David does. In the programme, I learned English, email, how to make sponge cake and went to see 12 elephants all over the city. I was very happy. Now I have many friends on Facebook. I want to meet everyone here again every year”. She was later chosen by the My Future group as its representative to sign up to join the network of people with disabilities in the Mekong Sub-region.
From this first trip abroad, the group had the chance to learn from experience and build links with friends around the world. In November, the group will take part in a “cross-border” online meeting with other groups in the network.
Other parents we met, such as Nguyen Thi Hanh (aunt of Nguyen Quang Dat, 30), Duong Ngo Cong (father of Duong Ngo Binh Thuan, 32), and Phan Thi Thu (mother of Canh Tuan, 27)… all affirmed that their children had made considerable progress after steadily taking part in the My Future group over time. Every week, members regularly take part in activities: studying, learning Aikido, swimming or going to the park, cooking, making incense sticks together to earn a little money, and especially learning survival skills for when they have no family beside them.
Phan Thi Thu said that when Canh Tuan was born, she reproached herself many times with countless wishes that “if only my child were not like this” (he has Down’s syndrome). Even now, although her joy can never be complete, she and many other parents have learned to accept reality and are always preoccupied with doing good things for their children.
Nhu Lich – http://www.thanhnien.com.vn