Report Saigon Businessmen
The integration aspirations of people with disabilities into society is a real challenge now. A main reason is that society is "forgetting" the presence and value PWDs can bring to the community. Some businesses are trying to remove these obstacles even though this dream is not easy. Their effort is what remains after the program "A World For All."
On 11/1, nearly 300 spectators were present at the outdoor stage, PMU Musical School, Ho Chi Minh City, to enjoy a concert of the program "A World For All." That program was an opportunity for people with disabilities at the Center for Disability and Development (DRD center) to communicate with the Businessman-singing band and audiences. The presence of these stars with their musical empathy was the major factor to attract audiences to this program. These artists Ha Van Dong, Ha Chuong, Thuy Tien, Anh Manh, DRD band and Businessman-singing band gave the audiences a great music experience by showing their zeal and amazing voices that touched everyone's hearts . The images every singer stepping up on stage with crutches, or when Ha Chuoung’s reached out for navigation assistance moved the audience emotionally. To approach to the art field, people with disabilities have to overcome their personal barriers and have to shed their feeling of inferiority. And yet there are still many other barriers from real life and society they cannot influence.
Ms. Vo Thi Hoang Yen, director of the Center for the DRD stated that the proportion of people with disabilities in Vietnam accounted for more than 6% of the population, equivalent to more than 5 million people. However, compared to other developing countries, Vietnamese disabled people face further disadvantages because current conditions do not their facilitate participation in social activities.
For exaple, moving into buildings, going to office parks, visiting amusement parks, etc. present a real challenge for people with disabilities due to the lack of wheelchair-accessible paths.
"I heard about a girl with disabilities who studied very hard but she was at risk of dropping out of school because her classes were on the 3rd floor of the school and there was no support for people with disabilities to access the classroom," said Yen. Because of situations like this DRD, along with businessmen, is wholeheartedly calling out for help in offices, schools, and other places. Together they are trying to pave the way for people with disabilities to participate at workplaces and schools and the community at large. Addressing this same point, Thong Ba Le, CEO and Construction Joint Stock Company Commercial TTT, said that Vietnam was not fully aware of the presence of people with disabilities. To build toilets for disabled people in his company, he had to go abroad to research and collect information, locate and measure the data, then bring this knowledge back to Vietnam and apply that to his company.
We are conveying the message "A VND for the people with disabilities " in order to call for community contributions to help people with disabilities, but that help is not just a handout. That message has another meaning -- about helping the people with disabilities to participate more in the society’s activities. If not, "their abilities will likely continue to be wasted by society." Mr. Thong said.
Initially, people with disabilities are in need of a specific culture, with favorable conditions for their living space. Knowing that their deeds and dreams are very huge, but hopefully, with the helping hands of society, "A VND for the people with disabilities " will not be an impossible mission.
Report Saigon Businessmen
The integration aspirations of people with disabilities into society is a real challenge now. A main reason is that society is "forgetting" the presence and value PWDs can bring to the community. Some businesses are trying to remove these obstacles even though this dream is not easy. Their effort is what remains after the program "A World For All."
On 11/1, nearly 300 spectators were present at the outdoor stage, PMU Musical School, Ho Chi Minh City, to enjoy a concert of the program "A World For All." That program was an opportunity for people with disabilities at the Center for Disability and Development (DRD center) to communicate with the Businessman-singing band and audiences. The presence of these stars with their musical empathy was the major factor to attract audiences to this program. These artists Ha Van Dong, Ha Chuong, Thuy Tien, Anh Manh, DRD band and Businessman-singing band gave the audiences a great music experience by showing their zeal and amazing voices that touched everyone's hearts . The images every singer stepping up on stage with crutches, or when Ha Chuoung’s reached out for navigation assistance moved the audience emotionally. To approach to the art field, people with disabilities have to overcome their personal barriers and have to shed their feeling of inferiority. And yet there are still many other barriers from real life and society they cannot influence.
Ms. Vo Thi Hoang Yen, director of the Center for the DRD stated that the proportion of people with disabilities in Vietnam accounted for more than 6% of the population, equivalent to more than 5 million people. However, compared to other developing countries, Vietnamese disabled people face further disadvantages because current conditions do not their facilitate participation in social activities.
For exaple, moving into buildings, going to office parks, visiting amusement parks, etc. present a real challenge for people with disabilities due to the lack of wheelchair-accessible paths.
"I heard about a girl with disabilities who studied very hard but she was at risk of dropping out of school because her classes were on the 3rd floor of the school and there was no support for people with disabilities to access the classroom," said Yen. Because of situations like this DRD, along with businessmen, is wholeheartedly calling out for help in offices, schools, and other places. Together they are trying to pave the way for people with disabilities to participate at workplaces and schools and the community at large. Addressing this same point, Thong Ba Le, CEO and Construction Joint Stock Company Commercial TTT, said that Vietnam was not fully aware of the presence of people with disabilities. To build toilets for disabled people in his company, he had to go abroad to research and collect information, locate and measure the data, then bring this knowledge back to Vietnam and apply that to his company.
We are conveying the message "A VND for the people with disabilities " in order to call for community contributions to help people with disabilities, but that help is not just a handout. That message has another meaning -- about helping the people with disabilities to participate more in the society’s activities. If not, "their abilities will likely continue to be wasted by society." Mr. Thong said.
Initially, people with disabilities are in need of a specific culture, with favorable conditions for their living space. Knowing that their deeds and dreams are very huge, but hopefully, with the helping hands of society, "A VND for the people with disabilities " will not be an impossible mission.