On 11 September 2015, representatives of the Center for Research and Action for Inclusive Development (IDEA) attended the closing ceremony of the Viet Nam Disability Inclusion Project (IVWD) at the Apricot Hotel, 136 Hang Trong, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
This is a project supporting inclusive education for children with disabilities, vocational training and job creation for people with disabilities, and vocational training and job creation for young people with disabilities in Viet Nam, implemented from 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2015.
The entire project management board and invited delegates together reviewed the results of CRS’s 10-year journey, with key findings from the project and valuable recommendations for CRS, the Ministry of Education and Training, the schools participating in the ITTP programme and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Many of the project’s trainees and parents of trainees shared their thoughts, feelings and sincere thanks to the project’s stakeholders.
Ms. Hoai, a trainee, said: “ I learned a lot from the programme. Thanks to the programme I gained a lot of knowledge and skills, I have a good job at Big Sales, the school cares about me and trusts me and let me take part in the IT competition in South Korea, and especially in this very programme I found my other half (another trainee in the programme)”.
At the ceremony, commemorative medals were solemnly presented to partner organisations and individuals.
Mr. Joakim Parker, Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), affirmed: “We will further strengthen the participation and access of organisations of people with disabilities in provinces and cities in Viet Nam. The initiatives in the IVWD project that have changed support programmes and policies on supporting and policies on supporting people with disabilities will not only be applied in Viet Nam, but will also be replicated in programmes in Laos, Cambodia and other countries through CRS’s global education network”.
Anh Nguyen