Open her own path
From a shy and insecure girl, Phan Thi Rat, born in 1990, has molded to a dynamic and open female leader. Rat was one of the 12 most outstanding people with disabilities in Vietnam in 2013 who were honored to meet President Truong Tan Sang.
Born in a poor family in Ninh Thuan coast, like her sisters, Rat’s limbs have been weak since childhood. Rat finds it difficult to move, to hold and to grasp things. Rat said that when she was at school, she did not dare look directly into the eyes of other people. The disabled body gave this sea-born girl the feeling of inferiority which made her alienated from her friends and become a maudlin. Rat had a real fight during first days coming to HCMC for school. Far from her relatives and friends, together with her shyness, Rat did not dare to ask for any help. From going to the market, washing, cooking, taking buses, Rat had to manage to do it all on her own.
In 2011, receiving the DRD’s Companion scholarship, and giving back by tutoring children who had the same situations at May Man Shelter (Binh Tan District, HCMC), Rat has increasingly changed. Looking at the boys and the girls avidly studying with smiling faces, despite their disabilities, made her warm. That was the first time in her life Rat realized that she was lucky because she still had her family, teachers and friends who supported and loved her. A body defect is just an inconvenience rather than a disability. Since understanding this, she has started to open her heart, learn to listen and share her stories and viewpoints about life with others.
In 2013, Rat was praised as one of the 12 most outstanding people with disabilities in Vietnam. Her life has steadily opened following exchange trips in Can Tho, Phan Thiet, Ha Noi…; then becoming the leader in multiple activities at DRD. This young girl is very “spirited” when performing the role of MC who propagates the “flame” of enthusiasm for social activities such as selling flowers to raise fund, organizing festivals and exchange programs for orphans and children with disabilities… “My life has changed significantly. I do not care about my disability, do not have the fear of being looked at or commented any more. I become confident at school, freely have fun and glow with great happiness when I can do what I want”, said the little leader.
Open her own path
From a shy and insecure girl, Phan Thi Rat, born in 1990, has molded to a dynamic and open female leader. Rat was one of the 12 most outstanding people with disabilities in Vietnam in 2013 who were honored to meet President Truong Tan Sang.
Born in a poor family in Ninh Thuan coast, like her sisters, Rat’s limbs have been weak since childhood. Rat finds it difficult to move, to hold and to grasp things. Rat said that when she was at school, she did not dare look directly into the eyes of other people. The disabled body gave this sea-born girl the feeling of inferiority which made her alienated from her friends and become a maudlin. Rat had a real fight during first days coming to HCMC for school. Far from her relatives and friends, together with her shyness, Rat did not dare to ask for any help. From going to the market, washing, cooking, taking buses, Rat had to manage to do it all on her own.
In 2011, receiving the DRD’s Companion scholarship, and giving back by tutoring children who had the same situations at May Man Shelter (Binh Tan District, HCMC), Rat has increasingly changed. Looking at the boys and the girls avidly studying with smiling faces, despite their disabilities, made her warm. That was the first time in her life Rat realized that she was lucky because she still had her family, teachers and friends who supported and loved her. A body defect is just an inconvenience rather than a disability. Since understanding this, she has started to open her heart, learn to listen and share her stories and viewpoints about life with others.
In 2013, Rat was praised as one of the 12 most outstanding people with disabilities in Vietnam. Her life has steadily opened following exchange trips in Can Tho, Phan Thiet, Ha Noi…; then becoming the leader in multiple activities at DRD. This young girl is very “spirited” when performing the role of MC who propagates the “flame” of enthusiasm for social activities such as selling flowers to raise fund, organizing festivals and exchange programs for orphans and children with disabilities… “My life has changed significantly. I do not care about my disability, do not have the fear of being looked at or commented any more. I become confident at school, freely have fun and glow with great happiness when I can do what I want”, said the little leader.