There is a kind of Humanism that is "Beautiful as a flower - Hard as stone".

There, you'll find stories of different lives…

Under the flamboyant trees on the campus of the Faculty of Humanities, a student in a gentle white dress was searching for me. That was the first image of Huyen Trang that made an impression on me. Walking alongside Trang, it was hard for me to imagine that the girl beside me couldn't see clearly. Trang is currently a K61 International Studies student and also the Vice President of the Hoa Da Club.

Huyen Trang - Vice President of the Hoa Da Club, F11 generation

Hoa Da is a club supporting students with disabilities, affiliated with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Founded on April 18, 2008, the club is now officially in its 11th year. Currently, Hoa Da has 22 members who are students with disabilities, along with hundreds of other members and collaborators.

At Hoa Da, students with disabilities are not to be pitied, nor are they to be dependent, and certainly not a burden. I was truly impressed by Huyen Trang's statement: "People with disabilities are simply people who are different, and we can still bring special value to life with that difference." At Hoa Da, the members embody the spirit of "beautiful as flowers - strong as stone."

“She absolutely loved studying Psychology. Even though she knew her eyesight was poor and that accessing textbooks and materials would be difficult, she was determined to choose Psychology as her second major. However, as her eyesight deteriorated, she had to go to the Academic Affairs office to request a leave of absence, sobbing uncontrollably. More than ever, I felt truly helpless and longed to do something for her, for other less fortunate students.” These are the words of Ngoc Linh – a K61 Psychology student and the head of the Hoa Da Club (F11 generation). Driven by a desire to help students less fortunate than herself, Linh decided to join the Hoa Da Club in her first year.

Now, in my third year with Hoa Da Club, having organized countless events, big and small, seeing the unique lives of those around me makes me feel even more compelled to strive and work harder to help them. Witnessing their determination and resilience has helped me grow and become much stronger.

Hoa Da is a place for such compassionate hearts, a place for students who enjoy charitable activities and wish to help people with disabilities. It's a place where hearts are always ready to empathize and share with those facing special circumstances. It's also a place where people with special circumstances come together to help each other. At Hoa Da, students with disabilities not only receive help, but it's also an environment where they have the opportunity to express themselves. Participating in Hoa Da's activities, teachers and friends will be incredibly impressed by how students can take on roles such as MCs, actors, and organize, perform, sing, dance, and interact with other members...

Hoa Da Club performed in the "Lens of Love" program.

In addition, the Hoa Da Club also provides support to students with disabilities in various aspects of their studies and daily lives. For those who struggle with written exams, the club helps them switch to more suitable formats such as oral examinations or essays.

The club collaborates with the Hanoi City Association of People with Disabilities, the Thanh Xuan District Association of People with Disabilities, the Thanh Xuan Association of the Visually Impaired, the Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children in Tien Lu, Hung Yen, and many other individuals and organizations to carry out volunteer programs to help those in need. These include:"Spring brings togetherness - Tet brings love,"An annual event organized by the Hoa Da Club during the Lunar New Year season, the program realized the desire to help children at the rehabilitation center for disabled children in Tien Lu, Hung Yen - a place that nurtures and cares for 150 disabled children who are still capable of learning and rehabilitation, belonging to poor, near-poor, and families with particularly difficult circumstances."Spring arrives in Thien Giao"The program was held at the Thien Giao Center for Victims of Agent Orange in Do Son, Hai Phong (Thien Giao Mushroom Farm). The program brought a warm and festive atmosphere of Tet (Vietnamese New Year) to Thien Giao Mushroom Farm, offering encouragement and comfort to help alleviate some of the difficulties faced by the less fortunate there. And there are many other meaningful charitable programs that the club has continuously organized over the past 10 years.

Members of the Hoa Da Club together with children from the Tien Lu Center for Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities.

Stone Flower - as hard as stone

Someone once likened the Stone Flower to a beautiful flower, but not a fragile beauty that easily evokes pity and gentle handling. This flower possesses a strong, resilient beauty, for it has forged itself through wind and frost. This is also the spirit of the Humanistic Stone Flower.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh (K62 Social Work) is a member of F11 - the newest generation of Hoa Da Club. When asked about the member who impressed her the most in the club, Anh smiled and shared with me: “It’s Thiep, sister. The smile on his face never seems to fade. He’s faced many difficulties, but I never hear him complain. He’s even the one who always encourages us. Whether it’s a cold morning, a sunny afternoon, or a rainy day, his hand is always there to speak up during class.”

And it wasn't just Thiep in Anh's story. My friend Trang, who initially seemed weak and gentle, was also a resilient "Stone Flower." Gently lowering her gaze to her hands, Huyen Trang whispered to me: "People used to tell me: 'How can you learn in first grade like that? How can you ride a bicycle like that? How can you go to university like that? How can you live alone like that?' Yet I was an excellent student in first grade. Now I'm a third-year university student. I even started living alone in my second year."

Hoa Da is a club that supports students with disabilities. But in reality, the students who come to Hoa Da not only give, they also receive a great deal. Looking at the smiles, the confidence, and the admirable efforts of the special lives of the club's members, Hoa Da members have the opportunity to reflect and find great motivation to overcome difficulties in life.

Hoa Da – a family

Hoang Thi Thu (K63 Southeast Asian Studies), also an F11 member of the club, shared: “What I like most about the club is the amazing energy of everyone. The seniors and friends are all very enthusiastic and work tirelessly. I used to always think negatively. But after joining the club for a while, I find that the things I was afraid of before seem insignificant.”

Members of Hoa Da during the "Welcome F11 - Unforgettable Memories" gathering.

Hoa Da has created more favorable conditions for students with disabilities to study and work, enabling them to break free from their comfort zones. At Hoa Da, they can share and be themselves. For other members, the club offers opportunities to experience volunteer activities, allowing their youthful energy, enthusiasm, and love to warm the hearts of those less fortunate. And in return, they receive the same warmth. Hoa Da is truly a second family for its members, a place where they can love and be loved.