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A souvenir shop opened by disabled people at Nguyen Nga center |
Many young members at Nguyen Nga vocational training center for disabled people are good at not only making handicrafts but composing poems and stories. They formed a group called “cactus flower”.
In early 2002, Nguyen Nga Center manager Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga hit on an idea of forming a club or group, helping disabled people who love the arts have chances to show their talent.
The 9-member- group was born then, namely “cactus flower”. They are all in their early twenties, showing great enthusiasm for life integration.
Instead of going to school, most learnt at home. Their view on the world is, therefore, narrower. In return, they have subtle mind in understanding and imagining.
Thuy Hoa, a group member, was paralysed when she was 6 months. “My parents worried about my health when I was wrapped up in writing,” Hoa said. “But I got the support from my family when they realized positive effects of composing poems and stories.”
About 20, including paralysed, hearing-impaired, and sight-impaired people, joined a drawing class at Nguyen Nga center. Their paintings are hung on the wall in the class, showing their joy of living.
Alongside paintings, they also draw patterns on clothes, bags, hats, and cards. These play a key role in their souvenir shop.
Their paintings are quite simple in colors and layout with familiar topics, such as gardening and sunset in my hometown.
“Their paintings are simple and quite rough, but they show their emotion and aspiration for overcome difficulties,” said Tam, their instructor.
Nguyen Van Teo, a member of the center, has become well known as a stone-making artisan. Thanks to his skillful hands, stones could become beautiful handicrafts, attracting many tourists.
He could make handicrafts from small stones, requiring much patience and concentration.
“I was assigned to carve the statue of King Quang Trung with the length of three meters, using petrified wood,” he said. “It will be display at the 1000 years of Thang Long (Ha Noi) exhibition in Ha Noi. This is my biggest-ever task.”
Initially, many bought products made by disabled people for charitable purpose. However, they have gradually recognized the quality of these products.
By their work, creativeness, and talent, disabled people hope to prove themselves useful in the society. The arts and the enthusiasm for art nurture their aspiration.
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