“How are you today?” is the name of one of four films shown at the United Nations building in Hanoi on 21 October.
The film tells the journey of a young man who has just graduated from university and was lucky enough to get a job at the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture, with many hopes for a bright future, when he suddenly discovers that he can no longer walk because of myelitis… But he found a way to overcome his illness and even help other people with disabilities. On his journey, he was not alone, as he had friends in the “Faith to Win” group sharing it with him.
Together with “How are you today?”, three other films were also shown here: Mother and Child Diary, Waking Up on the Rooftop, and The Wheelchair Experience. These are the first works of students who took part in the Media – Bridging the Gap training course, an initiative of the Centre for the Will to Live and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The project has run since May 2017 with 15 students with disabilities. The course aims to help students with disabilities gain basic media skills and create their own media products, through which they reflect their own views and opinions on stories and issues affecting their own community and the world around them.
After a period of study, the four best films and short videos were conceived and staged by the students themselves. The graduation ceremony was an opportunity to announce these achievements as a way of recognising the efforts and endeavours of everyone throughout the journey. These media products give audiences fresher views of the community of people with disabilities in particular and other social issues in general.
Ms Akiko Fujii, UNDP Country Director in Vietnam, said she was very impressed by the students’ works. Each work underlines the importance of ensuring people with disabilities have access to information and participation in media work.
Ms Thao Van, Chair of the founding council of the Centre for the Will to Live, said the course had achieved more than expected. “After the course, many students realised they had more talent than they thought. That is wonderful, because just one short course helped them discover themselves in such a positive way,” Ms Thao Van shared. Student Nguyen Van Hung said: Each person has their own personal mark. Through each film, people with disabilities want to tell the story of their lives – however difficult and tiring – but not to give up. Always be yourself, always take charge of your own life.
Hoai Thu – http://giaoducthoidai.vn/