In the days leading up to Tet, Phu Nu Newspaper and the City Women’s Union visited and gave gifts to women with disabilities – people who have overcome themselves.
For many days, Ms Luu Ngoc Yen (living at 137/3A Cao Xuan Duc, Ward 12, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City) has been rushing to work day and night, hoping to earn a little extra money to buy her child a new shirt.
In a house of barely 10 m2, Ms Yen sits on a small chair, her hands swiftly working. Having had a leg impairment since childhood, she sadly put aside her dream of becoming a tailor. In recent years, introduced by the Women’s Union, Ms Yen has been trimming threads from garments and children’s shoes. “I really want to learn trades suitable for people with disabilities, such as crocheting, beading, making voile and fabric flowers… However, the ward does not yet offer these trades, and the Women’s Union’s free classes are too far from where I live.” Recently, the Women’s Union of Ward 12 lent her money to buy a washing machine so she can wash clothes for hire in the neighbourhood, earning extra income to support her two daughters’ schooling.
Rising above adversity, Ms Yen was trusted by local people and elected deputy head of the residential group and head of Women’s Union group 29. Receiving the Tet gift from Phu Nu Newspaper, she said emotionally: “I am very grateful to Phu Nu Newspaper and the Women’s Union. This Tet, my family will have a happier Tet”.
With her old bicycle, Ms Nguyen Thi Nu (61 years old), living at 87/34 Phan Van Tri, Ward 14, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, goes to buy lotus seeds all the way in Cho Lon to string them, dry them and then sell them wholesale everywhere. She has been doing this work for nearly 40 years. Ms Nu could not hide her joy: “This is the second time I have received a Tet gift from the Union. Although Tet is near, I have not yet bought anything because my family is too poor. Now I can rest assured because there are gifts for my grandchildren for the spring days”.
Ms Nu hopes the Women’s Union will introduce her to sources of capital to borrow to repair her wooden mezzanine so her grandchildren can study in peace. As for herself, she hesitates: “I am often ill and live alone, and I hope to have a health insurance card for medical examinations.” Despite her difficult circumstances, Ms Nu still spends a lot of time taking part in Women’s Union activities. As a key member and head of Women’s Union group 45, she is optimistic: “Although I have a disability, I am still luckier than many other women because I can still work. As long as I am healthy, I will continue to be a member of the Union”.
Ms Vu Thi Tan Uyen (51 years old), living at 818/57B Nguyen Kiem, Ward 3, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, has disabilities in both legs but has striven to become a tailor. She confided: “I live alone, so I don’t care much about Tet shopping. The Union’s Tet gift surprised me very much; it is the motivation that helps me love life more”.
Ms Le Thi Thu Hien, Head of the Women’s Economic Development Support Board of the City Women’s Union, said: “Over the past year, the City Union and Phu Nu Newspaper have supported 100 million VND for women with disabilities to do business, opened many vocational classes and introduced many jobs for women. The City Union provides free vocational training, introduces jobs, supplies vocational materials… The City Women’s Union regularly opens sewing classes for women who need them, and continues to open beading, wool knitting, cake-making, foreign language and computer classes… The Union will survey women’s vocational training needs locally, so that at least each locality must have at least two vocational classes for women”.
Phuong Vy – According to http://phunuonline.com.vn/