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Success Story

Photo: USAID

A disabled child receives care in Pho Thuan village, in Vietnam’s south-central Quang Ngai province, as part of USAID’s efforts to help disabled children. “Just two years ago, we didn’t have any idea about disabilities. Now, we are more confident in supporting local children with disabilities,” said Nguyen Van Huong, Vice Chair of the local People’s Committee.

Two years ago, few people in Pho Thuan village in Vietnam’s Quang Ngai province were aware of the challenges facing children with disabilities and their families. Fearful of social stigma, many parents of disabled children avoided sending them to school for fear their children would be mistreated. Recognizing the need for greater community awareness about disabilities and issues that people with disabilities face, USAID funded a series of training and awareness workshops for both villages and households. The workshops educated communities about different kinds of disabilities, the challenges that disabled children face, and the importance of nurturing a culture of acceptance and inclusion. After attending the workshops, residents of Pho Thuan began discussing their responsibility as a community to help provide care for every child in their village.

After these discussions, community leaders decided to take action — they initiated a campaign to raise funds for disabled children. As part of the campaign, they organized cultural performances that stressed the need for acceptance and support of all children.

With outstanding levels of participation, the community raised 5,000,000 Vietnamese Dong, approximately $314, for the children. Considering that the average income in Pho Thuan is $30 per month, this was an impressive sum. The success of this community-driven fundraising campaign was significant because it signaled the first time that these children were made a community priority.

Nguyen Van Huong, Vice Chair of the local People’s Committee, outlined the difference that the USAID-funded workshops had made. “Just two years ago, we didn’t have any idea about disabilities,” he said. “Now, we are more confident in supporting local children with disabilities ... our commitment to caring for them will never end.”

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