On 18 September 2015, the Center for Research and Action for Inclusive Development (IDEA) coordinated with the Youth with Disabilities Club of Thai Binh province to organise the final conference of the project “Strengthening capacity and promoting law enforcement to ensure the rights of women with disabilities”, funded by the United States Agency for International Development in Vietnam, at the Thuy Dien Hotel, Tran Thai Tong, Tien Phong, Tran Hung Dao, Thai Binh, Vietnam.
The project “Strengthening capacity and promoting law enforcement to ensure the rights of women with disabilities” helps women with disabilities build their capacity, become empowered, speak up for themselves and communicate to others about the rights of people with disabilities, through capacity-building and communication activities carried out by the women members of the Thai Binh Youth with Disabilities Club themselves. As a result, women with disabilities have become more confident, take part equally in community activities and develop opportunities to earn a living. They have also changed the community's perceptions and views of the abilities of women with disabilities. 
Photo: Ms Tran Thi Huyen, a member of the Hung Ha District Club of People with Disabilities, performing cheo singing at the closing ceremony
The project also provided cameras and training sessions on photography techniques and storytelling through photos for the women taking part, and supported them throughout the process whenever needed. They also attended training courses on life skills, business skills and soft skills, and were given legal knowledge, especially the Law on Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Ms Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chair of the Thai Binh Provincial Youth with Disabilities Club, shared: “Since the project was implemented, the women themselves, society and the community around them have changed significantly for the better. The women have soft skills and better communication and behaviour, business knowledge, a positive mindset, and are more confident and optimistic about life. In particular, the Photo Voice communication class attracted many women to take part in photography. A typical example is Nhien, who used to be very shy whenever she appeared in front of a crowd, but after joining the soft skills class she became very confident and changed her thinking; she used to wear only trousers, and now she wears skirts too, has cut her hair short and makes herself look much more beautiful. In addition, functional agencies such as the Provincial Women's Union have paid attention and launched a self-help club for women with disabilities.”
Photo: Ms Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chair of the Thai Binh Provincial Youth with Disabilities Club, speaking at the closing ceremony
The closing ceremony awarded prizes to seven contestants with outstanding essays in the writing contest on women with disabilities on the theme “My little story”, and held the photo exhibition “Stories around me”.
Photo: Awarding prizes in the writing contest on women with disabilities on the theme “My little story”
Photo: Activities at the photo exhibition “Stories around me”
The project final conference shared and reported to stakeholders and beneficiaries on the project results achieved; the initial effects the project helped bring to women with disabilities; exchanges on the project's difficulties and shortcomings; and identifying and finding solutions to sustain and replicate the project's results and models. It also aimed to implement the Law on Persons with Disabilities effectively and move towards an inclusive, barrier-free society in which women with disabilities can realise their potential, access opportunities equally and contribute positively to the community, and to help women with disabilities better understand their role and responsibilities in the process of integrating into and developing the country.
Ms Nguyen Hong Oanh, Head of IDEA, shared: “The project has now been completed, and this will be a basis for replicating the model of participation by women with disabilities through communication, contributing to raising general awareness of the law and life skills for women with disabilities. Sustaining and replicating the model of participation by women with disabilities through images is very necessary. However, this is a new model, so further training in professional skills, management and leadership skills, legal knowledge and communication skills is needed for the leadership board of the Women's Club of People with Disabilities. The project's success is shown not only in achieving its set objectives, but also in another impact it brought: improving the capacity of the implementing organisation, helping to strengthen the effectiveness of its activities and raise the voice of people with disabilities, especially women with disabilities, with local authorities and local people.”
ANH NGUYEN