Wings for dreams
Accompanying people with disabilities on their journey to find jobs and affirm themselves, technology classes at the Nghị Lực Sống Center have been operating persistently for many years as a "door" opening up new opportunities for hundreds of students.
Over two decades of formation and development, Nghị Lực Sống has become a common home for thousands of people with disabilities, helping them regain confidence and opportunities to live independently. From initial small classes, the center has gradually expanded into a place for vocational training, job counseling and business connection to create sustainable livelihoods for people with disabilities.
Ms. Ngo Thi Huyen Minh - Director of the Center could not hide her pride when mentioning the results that the center has achieved.
Each year, the center organizes 2 courses, each course has about 60-70 students. After the course ends, about 70% of students have stable jobs. These are telling numbers, showing that people with disabilities can completely support themselves by their own abilities and efforts" - Ms. Minh shared.
Recalling the journey of the early days of establishing the center, Ms. Ngo Thi Huyen Minh still could not hide her emotion. She recounted that at that time conditions were still lacking in all aspects, computers were still a foreign concept to many people with disabilities, but everything started from determination and belief that technology could open up opportunities to change lives.
“Back then it was very difficult, but we just simply thought that if we liked it, we could just do it," Ms. Minh smiled.
The founders at that time jointly contributed money to rent a small apartment, shared house rent and used the living room as a classroom. In 2009, the group obtained 10 old computers to serve teaching, gradually maintaining classes for people with disabilities.
Not stopping there, by 2010, the group continued to build the website "Nghi Luc Song" and contributed money to buy their own domain name with the desire to spread more positive values to the community. After many years of operation, in 2016, the Nghi Luc Song Center was officially established. By 2022, the unit transformed its model into a social enterprise, continuing to pursue the mission of supporting vulnerable people to integrate into life through technology and education.
Giving a lifeline
Stepping out of inferiority and the limits that once surrounded life, teacher Vu Phong Ky now chooses to return to accompany other people with disabilities as a way to give hope. For teacher Ky, Nghị Lực Sống is not only a place to help change his life, but also a place to sow the belief that people with disabilities can completely live independently with their own abilities.
Not stopping at traditional handicrafts, teacher Ky and his colleagues chose technology as a new direction to expand job opportunities for people with disabilities. According to him, society has long had invisible prejudices when thinking that people with disabilities are only suitable for simple, low-income and unstable jobs.
But when people with disabilities can work with technology, creating income from their own abilities, it is not only economic self-reliance but also a way for them to overcome adversity and be more confident in life" - teacher Ky shared.
“Students will learn basic computer skills, from how to hold a mouse or turn on a computer. After 2 months, you will be able to edit photos, process data, edit videos, make products using canva software, make videos using AI. After 6 months of specializing in one subject, many students will be able to confidently work at some businesses partnering with Nghị Lực Sống” - Mr. Ky said.
In addition to opening training classes on information technology, Nghi Luc Song also opened a training class on silver bean making with the guidance of artisans of Dinh Cong silver bean craft village (Hanoi). Students after studying for 3 months can make simple products and can receive a salary of 1-2 million VND/month for both studying and working. After 6 months of proficient vocational training, they will be sent to work at production workshops of Dinh Cong silver bean craft village with a salary of 6-8 million VND/month.
At Nghi Luc Song, people with disabilities are gradually affirming their value with their own efforts. Each diploma awarded not only marks a learning journey, but also opens up job opportunities, opportunities to stand firm in life. That is clear evidence that in any situation, each person can create value for themselves and contribute to society.
Nghị Lực Sống is truly a spreading flame, adding strong motivation to many individuals and communities. Having had the opportunity to accompany and closely follow the journey of the center, Mr. Hoang Nguyen Trong Dung - Member of the Nghe An Provincial Fatherland Front Committee was deeply inspired, and from there determined to return to his hometown to develop and replicate similar humane models at the grassroots level.
I think the Nghị Lực Sống Center is one of the valuable social models in that it does not only stop at short-term support, but focuses on creating opportunities for people with disabilities to learn a trade, work and gradually become long-term self-reliant.
It is worth noting that the center has gradually shifted from short-term support to building sustainable capacity and livelihoods for disadvantaged youth, especially in the fields of digital skills, technology and community connection. This is a direction suitable for the current context, when people with disabilities need real integration opportunities instead of being seen only from the perspective of social support" - Mr. Dung shared.
