25 women were honoured at the event for their perseverance in overcoming their hardships – VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY – More than 200 disabled women attended the annual “Vẻ đẹp vầng trăng khuyết” (Beauty of the crescent moon) programme held by the HCM City Women’s Organisation on Tuesday.

It honoured 25 female handicaps for their perseverance and outstanding success.

Trần Thụy Thúy Vy (first left), a person with disability and the owner of a quilling business, speaks about her products at an event held to honour women with disabilities in HCMC on April 18 – VNA/VNS Photo

Speaking at the event, chairwoman of the Women’s Organisation, Nguyễn Trần Phượng Trân, said the organisation has programmes and policies to help disabled women like supporting their start-ups and providing them with loans and training.

It has donated houses to 39 of them, she said.

“We focus on vocational training, and have trained 536 individuals and helped 886 find jobs.”

At the event, three women shared their stories, speaking about how they have been contributing to society with support from the Women’s Organisation and their own undauntedness.

Huỳnh Thanh Thảo, who has brittle bone disease, is a self-taught teacher and owner of the Mini cô Ba (Mini Miss Three) library in Củ Chi, which provides free access to books to and fosters reading in children, especially underprivileged ones.

She has also been collaborating with donors and sponsors to provide scholarships to underprivileged students in Củ Chi and loans to disabled people across the country.

Trần Thụy Thúy Vy showcases has her quilling product.

Despite her walking disability , Trần Thụy Thúy Vy in District 4 has her own quilling (using strips of paper that are rolled, shaped and glued to create decorative designs) business. It also provides jobs to other disabled people.

Đào Thị Lệ Xuân, chairwoman of the Bình Thạnh District Blind Association and a chess player in the Việt Nam Paragames team, spoke about her in education and chess-playing and her efforts to take chess to blind people.

The event also provided a forum for disabled people to introduce their products, with 18 setting up stalls selling handicrafts and foods.

Ngô Thị Liên, who put up a stall selling traditional cakes, told Việt Nam News that as a regular attendee she felt grateful that she and other sellers get the opportunity to promote their products and get more customers.

“With help from the Women’s Organisation and sponsors, disabled women have more opportunities to strengthen their business and provide jobs for others.”

The event also saw loans worth VNĐ155 million given to 19 women to start businesses. – VNS