Bùi Ngọc Thịnh plays music at the national conference praising people with disabilities, orphans and outstanding sponsors. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — The sixth national conference praising people with disabilities, orphans and outstanding sponsors, has been held in Hà Nội, honouring many typical examples.

All of those honoured have overcome obstacles to become useful members of the community.

Multi-talented blind artist

Born into a poor family with both parents being visually impaired, Bùi Ngọc Thịnh was also visually impaired from birth.

Unable to see, Thịnh faces countless difficulties in daily life as well as in studying.

In order to not be left behind by his peers, Thịnh always strives and makes endless efforts to study both official curriculum at school and his passion – music.

Thịnh said that since he was very young, he loved music and wanted to become an artist.

At the age of three, he began to study drums, practising diligently to play simple songs.

When he was seven, Thịnh became acquainted with the concave fret guitar.

He exercised diligently every day to play more difficult songs.

Day after day, Thịnh continues to study many other musical instruments to increase his knowledge of music.

Up to now, he has learned to fluently play 14 types of musical instruments including drum, organ, piano, mandolin and guitar.

To successfully complete the school programme while practising musical instruments to satisfy his passion, Thịnh invested a lot of time and effort.

“Even though it is extremely hard and difficult, I always feel interested, because after stressful study sessions, I can create for myself moments of relaxation through music. For me, when I run my hands over the piano keys, I feel the most beautiful moments," said Thịnh.

With his musical skills, Thịnh actively participates in cultural performances throughout the area.

He has won many medals and certificates of merit of district, provincial and national level.

In 2011, Thịnh won the gold medal for his solo guitar performance in Khánh Hòa Province’s music festival.

The same year, he also won a gold medal for solo guitar in a national festival held in Hà Nội.

Five years later, he received the gold medal for monochord solo in the national music festival.

In 2011, the Việt Nam Records Organisation recognised Thịnh as the first Vietnamese person to play the most musical instruments fluently.

One year later, the Asian Records Organisation acknowledged him as the best player of many musical instruments in the Asia.

Thịnh said that he felt honoured and proud to receive these prestigious domestic and international awards.

This is the motivation for him to try harder, so as not to disappoint those who love and trust him.

With the desire to convey what he has learned to people in the same situation, Thịnh, together with the Ninh Hòa Town Blind Association in Khánh Hòa Province, called for sponsorship to raise VNĐ150 million (US$5,900) to open three organ courses for association members.

He himself worked as a teacher in the courses, helping many visually impaired people learn music.

Thịnh said that life was not always easy, especially for visually impaired people. But he always told himself, no matter how difficult and hard it was, he could never give up.

Never surrendering to obstacles

Representatives at the conference held in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

Having lost two thirds of his right leg in a work accident, Nguyễn Bá Tâm, who lives in Đông Triều Town, Quảng Ninh Province, overcame his misfortune to become a good businessman.

In 2007, while working at the Mạo Khê Coal Company, he unfortunately suffered an accident caused by a vehicle transporting coal.

His wife then left him with a five-year-old child.

Two years later, Tâm's two older brothers got sick and passed away, leaving him alone with his elderly and sick parents and the young child.

At that time, his health deteriorated, he had difficulty walking, and his life came to a standstill.

But, not losing his determination, Tâm always tried to find a way to escape poverty.

Taking advantage of his family's long-standing tradition of animal husbandry, he built a poultry and waterfowl farm to make organic agricultural products.

He wants his products to ensure safety, quality and reasonable prices.

In 2008, Tâm started his business by raising 20 pairs of pigeons and nearly 100 chickens and geese.

In the early days, due to his lack of experience, he encountered many difficulties, but he was not discouraged, and continued to work and learn from experience.

His farming model gradually became stable and earned a profit.

From 2012 until now, he has developed the facility into the Quyết Tâm Poultry – Waterfowl Farm.

His annual profits have increased year by year.

In 2015, he earned a profit of VNĐ500 million ($19,800), and five years later he earned over VNĐ1 billion ($39,700).

Currently, his farm model is still growing, creating jobs for over 15 workers, including seven disabled ones.

All workers are regularly trained to improve their skills.

Tâm also usually participates in local social and charity activities to help poor households and households with great contribution to the nation.

Tâm also constantly researches and learns from others' experiences, then creatively applies them to his model.

He created a smart poultry feeding trough product, which won the consolation prize in the sixth Quảng Ninh Province Technical Innovation Contest in 2017.

With his efforts, Tâm has been awarded many certificates of merit from the Quảng Ninh People's Committee and the provincial Farmers' Association for outstanding and typical achievements in emulation campaigns.

In 2020, he was honoured to receive a certificate of merit from the Prime Minister as an excellent farmer. — VNS