The US Embassy sponsors the project “Developing communication skills for people with disabilities” of Hoa Da Club.

The activity is part of a series of projects to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and was funded thanks to the humane meaning and enthusiasm of the students when building the project. Student Luong Thi Ngoc Linh (K61 Psychology, Head of Hoa Da Club) shared: in 2017, in collaboration with Ms. Nguyen Minh Chau - Member of the Hanoi City Youth Committee for the Disabled in the project "Prism on the Rights of People with Disabilities", Hoa Da Club successfully organized the program "Prism of Love". From that success, accessing information about the YSEALI program of the US Embassy, ​​Vice Head of Hoa Da Club - student Do Thi Huyen Trang proposed the initiative on the project "Developing communication skills for people with disabilities" and together with the Club's Board of Directors developed a detailed plan.

Poster for the contest "Raise your voice, change your life" of the Project

The project targets people with disabilities aged 16-35, living and working in Hanoi. The project focuses on supporting, providing knowledge and skills necessary to improve communication and presentation skills for people with disabilities, while helping them to be more proactive and confident in their studies, work and life. The project also creates a forum for people with disabilities to speak up about their own problems and to exchange and share with each other, aiming to build a positive and humane life.

Young people with disabilities participate in the Project with a youthful and enthusiastic spirit.

After more than half a month of waiting, the Project was approved by the US Embassy. Immediately after the communication campaign was launched, nearly 30 disabled youth in Hanoi registered to participate and 24 were selected for phase II - the training phase. From November 18-22, 2018, training activities will be held on "Teamwork skills", "Finding personal values", "Presentation skills", "Responding skills and critical thinking". On December 3, 2018, phase III will begin with the final round of the presentation and debate competition with the participation of 03 groups of 9 contestants. Each group will make group introduction videos and present on topics of their choice related to people with disabilities. The judges of the final round include famous MCs such as: MC Hanh Phuc, MC Cong To, MC Thanh Mai - Director of Vietskills Professional MC Training Company for Children, and blind bilingual MC Dao Huong.

Project communication and presentation training sessions

The project received positive feedback from the contestants and the jury members. Ms. Tran Hong Dung (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thai Son Technology Company, Permanent Vice President of the Forever 20 Fund) shared her feelings when being a judge of the "Raise your voice, change your life" training round on her personal page: An afternoon and an extremely useful contest, not only for you but also for us - the judges. Because here - from these disabled people, we have a good belief in life, in the extraordinary willpower to overcome fate - an admirable optimism.

Tran Thanh Trung (contestant) shared: Thank you to the organizers for organizing this activity. When I registered, I didn't think there would be so many participants, but all of them were promising people. Personally, I always appreciate and support meaningful community programs like this. The program has contributed to building confidence for people with disabilities, especially influencing the change of thinking and perspective from both sides: the community and people with disabilities.

Head of Hoa Da Club Luong Thi Ngoc Linh shared: This is the first project of Hoa Da Club, so everything is still very unfamiliar and new. However, we are very happy because this project has brought Hoa Da's activities to a new level of development. That is, the Club can completely connect with outside organizations and units to implement useful activities for people with disabilities on a larger scale, with activities that have a greater and more positive impact on their lives. Hoa Da Club hopes to continue receiving funding to implement the next projects, supporting people with disabilities in learning English, accessing information technology, health care, job connections... And hope that the loving hearts shared will spread forever...

Disabled youth expressed joy and happiness when being connected and sharing life together in meaningful activities of the Project.