According to Hanoi’sDepartment of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the city has nearly100,000 people with disabilities and almost 10,000 orphans.
The capital city is caring for around 2,520 disadvantaged people,most of who are handicapped or orphans, at 11 community social centres.
Hanoi sets aside 800 billion VND (37 millionUSD) from its annual budget for social beneficiaries, including thehandicapped and orphans.
In the past five years,the Hanoi Disabled People Association mobilised 34 billion VND (1.57million USD) for providing 343 disabled people with vocational training,1,709 wheelchairs, 2,389 scholarships, and nearly 1,000 free medicalexaminations.
Dinh Hanh, Chairman of theassociation, said to care for social beneficiaries in Hanoi, currentefforts are commendable, helping to encourage kind acts from individualsand organisations.
Besides receivingassistance, many of the disabled have become shining examples, creatingjobs not only for themselves but for others as well.
Nguyen Trung from Kim Lien, Dong Da district, surmounted hischildhood paralysis to receive a bachelor’s degree in foreign languagesand become an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Trung and his friend then founded the ‘For a Bright Future’ groupwith the goal to help the disabled overcome hardships and improve theirlives.
He also opened a workshop to manufacture and repair wheelchairs at home.
Another aspiring story comes from one of the 8,000 blind people in Hanoi.
Tran Duc Nam in Xuan Non commune, Dong Anh district, went blind aftera traffic accident when he was in the sixth grade, but continued as astudent, ultimately attending the Hanoi Open University.
Nam was able to build his own two-storey house from his savings.
There are also admirable stories from those who have donated their time and skills to the disadvantaged and orphans.
Nguyen Thi Coi, a retired teacher in Hoang Van Thu ward, Hoang Maidistrict, has taught nearly 600 children, including over 200 disabledchildren.
Nguyen Thi Vui, Head of thecooperative Ngo Ha in Chuyen My commune, Phu Xuyen district, has openedaround 70 classes to provide professional training to more than 2,000disabled people and orphans in Hanoi and neighbouring provinces.
The association suggested the city should boost media campaigns toelicit sympathy and responsibility from the community to offer theirassistance to the disabled and orphans.-VNA