Hoa Binh province has about 15,000 people with disabilities (PWD), 86% of them are unemployed and heavily dependent on their families while the main income of most families in Hoa Binh province is from agro-forestry and fishery, the life of most people is quite difficult. Therefore, a solution for career orientation and job training for the PWD belongings to the ethnic group of the province is crutial to improve their livelihoods, reduce the burdens for the families and enhance the economic situation of the province in particular and in Vietnam in general.
Thuan Hoa Social Protection Center was established in 2008 with the mission of supporting people with disabilities belonging to ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh province to develop sources of income and to actively integrate into society. After 3 years, Thuan Hoa has trained the traditional brocade weaving and created jobs with stable incomes for 307 disabled people of Thai, Dao, H’mong, Muong ethnicities. 100% of PWDs have a job after completing the training courses.
In the future, Thuan Hoa plans to expand its activities and utilize the strengths of local community as well as the strengths of the center to enhance the social impact as well as sustainability in long-term.
About Social Entrepreneur:
Vi Thi Thuan, the founder the Thuan Hoa Social Protection Center, holding the position of Vice Chairman of the Mai Chau Brocade Cooperative. As a woman of ethnic minority (Thai) but Thuan owns qualities of a social entrepreneur. Apart from professional experiences in the brocade weaving and vocational training, she is always responsive, actively capturing all business opportunities. Witnessing the lives of unemployed PWDs in ethnic minorities who have to depend on their relatives and are treated as family burden, Thuan committed to changing those people’s lives. Thuan Hoa Social Protection Center was founded in order to carry out her life-devoted missions of maintaining a brocade weaving village and changing the lives of ethnic-minority PWDs by helping them have a skills, employment and income.
Doan Thi Thu Huong graduated from Vietnam National University, Hanoi – College of Foreign Languages and has a passionate interest in Communications and Public Relations. In 2010, Huong joined a nonprofit organization, East Meets West Foundation and started with projects on PWDs. Huong has experiences in implementing development projects to support PWDs and fund-raising for charity programs through the communications program. Currently, Huong is the Director of Asia Communications and Travel Corporation (AC&T). Huong wants to leverage her relationships and the advantage of the tourism industry to help follow THSPC’s missions.