Quang Tri: Closing Ceremony of the Independent Living Project of People with Disabilities

Oh, what a beautiful life, the dawn is shining

Persons with disabilities must overcome themselves

Community helps each other

Family strengthens faith.

Let's try our best!

Push back so many barriers, and remove sorrows!

Living independently, my friend, we have to train

Building a sustainable forever future

The lyrics in the "Folk song about the independent living of persons with disabilities" composed by a group of trainers who are disabled people in Quang Tri and be performed to the tune of Dang Dan Cung - Binh Tri Thien folk song were resounded in the pride and joy at the closing ceremony of the Independent Living Project of People with Disabilities in the morning of December 26, 2022, in Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province.

                                 Overview of the closing ceremony

The event was organized by the Action for Community Development Center (ACDC) in collaboration with the Association of People with Disabilities, Agent Orange Victims, Supporting People with Disabilities and Protecting local Children's Rights Associations.  The event was attended by Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh - Director of ACDC, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien - Central Region Manager of HI, Mr. Thai Vinh Lieu - Chairman of the Association of People with Disabilities, Victims of Orange, Supporting People with Disabilities and Protecting local Children's Rights in Quang Tri Province, along with more than 60 delegates from the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, the Department of Health, the Association of People with Disabilities in Trieu Phong, Hai Lang, Dong Ha, Cam Lo, Vinh Linh districts and a group of trainers on peer counselling.

Mr. Bui Cong Thach - project officer delivered a speech on the implementation of project activities "Independent living of people with disabilities"

“Independent living of people with disabilities” is a component of the project “Strengthening health care and rehabilitation training component to improve housing access and independent living for people with disabilities” organized by organization HI,  funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), implemented by ACDC in 05 districts/cities in Quang Tri province including Vinh Linh, Cam Lo, Trieu Phong, Hai Lang and Dong Ha City. From March 2020 to December 2022, more than 365 people with disabilities and their family members attended training on independent living; 220 peer counselling sessions on independent living for 140 people with disabilities and more than 50 family members of people with disabilities; more than 200 officials from different departments have improved their knowledge on disability integration and independent living to support people with disabilities; More than 370 people participated in communication sessions to raise awareness about independent living. In particular, the project has trained 30 trainers (TOTs) who are people with disabilities to carry out the above activities, and they have become trainers and consultants for activities related to the Independent Living component of other projects. They are the ones who inspire, share, and encourage people with disabilities to live more independently and contribute to the success of the project.

Ms. Cao Thi Lan Huong - the beneficiary of the project - shares her journey to change herself

At the ceremony, the delegates not only listened to the report on the performance of the past 3 years, but also watched the pictures and clips recording the journey from the first days, the development, and the working process of the group.  The participants were very emotional when listening to the sharing of people with disabilities - the beneficiaries of the project, they became more confident, more decidable on their own future, and more integrated into the community after joining the project.

Ms. C.T.L.H – A person with mobility impairment confided: “From a person with low self-esteem, just hanging around the house, afraid to interact with strangers, after many times the people at project came to talk and consult, I have changed a lot. Since the day I was involved with the project's activities, I have been thinking more positively and optimistically, openly sharing my thoughts and plans with my peers in the peer group. My happiness is multiplied when I become a peer consultant because I can share, confide and encourage people in the same situation as me.”

Ms. Le Thi Hoai Nho - the beneficiary of the project - shared her feelings about the values ​​of Independent living for people with disabilities

L.T.H.N shared: “I have glass bone disease, weak health, so I just stay at home and feel very guilty about myself. When fellow counsellors and rehabilitation technicians visited my house, I was guided by the technician to walk on crutches instead of using a chair to move and do some exercises suitable for my condition. Through the support of the project, everyone's, and my efforts, I can now move on my own with crutches, have a job knitting and crocheting to make extra income, and in my free time I can help mom with housework. I have understood and realized the value of independent living; I live more meaningfully, happily, optimistically… The knitting and selling of the products I make not only make extra income but also help me gain a connection with many people.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh - Director of ACDC -  highly appreciated the achievements in the past 3 years of the project "Independent living of people with disabilities"

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh - Director of ACDC said: “This is the first time that the independent living model for people with disabilities has been introduced into Vietnam by ACDC. This success is the result of the coordination and consensus between ACDC and the Association of People with Disabilities, Agent Orange Victims, Protecting People with Disabilities and Protecting local Children's Rights in Quang Tri Province, districts, and local government agencies, especially the group of trainers. I would like to express my sincerest thanks to USAID for sponsoring the project, and HI for trusting and coordinating with ACDC, departments, agencies, people with disabilities, and technicians who have stood side by side. with us on this journey. We have replicated this model in other provinces within the framework of the integration project. I believe this is just a break for the project to go further and further in the future.”

Mr. T.D.N - Chairman of Trieu Phong District Association of People with Disabilities shared: “I am one of the people who have been with this project since the first days of the project in Quang Tri province. I realized that this is a very new idea. Until now, few people have paid attention to changing the perception of people with disabilities and society to help people with disabilities live more independently. I think this is the most sustainable and practical support for people with disabilities. In the province, several projects have begun to make independent living for people with disabilities one of their goals. This shows that although the idea is new, it has a great spread. I hope that independent living for people with disabilities will become the motto of the Association of People with Disabilities and related departments…”

Mr. Thai Vinh Lieu - Chairman of the Association of persons with Disabilities, Victims of Agent Orange, Supporting People with Disabilities and Protecting Children's Rights in Quang Tri Province awarded certificates of merit to individuals with outstanding achievements in supporting activities related to disability

The project "Improving Independent Living for People with Disabilities" has been implemented in Quang Tri province since March 2020 and is funded by USAID through the HI Organization, in which ACDC is the technical support partner and the Association of People with Disabilities, victims of Agent Orange, Protecting people with disabilities and protecting children's rights in Quang Tri province are implementing units. This closing ceremony is a milestone to recognize the achievements of the project that have been achieved in the past time in the Quang Tri area.

Translator: Pham Minh Quang