|
|
| To Give is to Get: How a Disabled Person Can Turn His Life Around and Support Other People |
 PRINTABLE VERSION |
TVT: I gradually built up my own “defense system”. I would not turn away or let people get away easily. Instead, I confronted them with total directness: “Why can’t a disabled person study to become a teacher? Well, I am a disabled one, and I dare you to find ways to rid this university of me”, and, “If you girls could lend me an arm, I would be glad to join the applause”.
TVT: I tried to be more hardened to such comments, and in this regard, actively joined many youth activities at my university. By throwing myself at more public occasions, I believed I would become more confident and communicative. I became a member of the Student Association Panel, and the Committees of Youth Union at my university. Together with a group of students, I set up the monthly award for 10 distinguished impaired students, sponsored by the Prudential Fund. This was the first step towards my growing involvement in social activities.
GN: And …?
TVT: Well, I graduated. After graduation, I was offered a place at Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation - VVAF. Then it was a series of trips to conferences (APEC IT Camp for Youth With Disabilities in Seoul, South Korea August 2002; UNESCAP Decade for the Disabled Persons 1993-2002, October 2002; International Gathering in Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, March 2003; Youth, Development & Peace 2004, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina September 5-7, 2004; PAN Asia – Pacific Youth Leadership Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, September 18-22, 2004; International Dialogue on Youth in Lubeck, Germany November 2004). These conferences have brought me a lot of experiences and skills, as well as unforgettable memories. The conference to Bosnia, for example, was most perilous for me. I did not have visa at that time, and was constantly retained at customs checkpoints. We arrived in the country when it still had not recovered from the past civil war, and beggars were everywhere. But that, along with other conferences, was always joyful to me. I felt a “burning fire” within myself, and that fire was rekindled again and again as I went deeper and deeper into social activities.
GN: As far as I gather from your activities, you must have had a lot of interactions with youth. Do you have any comment or suggestions?
TVT: I am currently working as focal point for the United Nations Youth Programme in Vietnam. This position is extremely consuming. I have to do a lot of communications, moving from one place to another and planning a lot of projects. And yes, during my activities, I have had many chances of working with young people. In the Vietnamese context, youth activities are flourishing. The problem is they only reach a small scale and most of their activities are spontaneous across the country. Political and social obstacles are the main reason behind this setback. Generally speaking, all youth activities have to be in line with the government authorities’ permission and that framework could be particularly restrictive. Young people, by comparison with other countries, have more difficulties in, for example, holding an international conference. Part of my activities is to help them overcome such holdbacks.
GN: What do you think of MDGs and youth, given the fact that the Millenium Campaign has received worldwide youth participation and support? Do you have any idea as to the possible effect MDGs have on youth?
TVT: The MDGs and youth is an interesting issue. As far as I am concerned, youth have and will be the main force to drive these goals ahead. MDGs are not compulsorily binding for all countries, and they touch on nearly every aspect of social and political considerations. Such a comprehensive approach, however, could be easily taken over by the youth in their simplest activities. Young people have already had many movements in teaching disadvantaged children, volunteering to help poor people in remote areas, or keeping the city clean… These goals will be a helpful guideline for their contribution to the community. MDGs, on the other hand, have a great influence on youth in return. I myself did not know anything about the MDGs until I attended a conference in Japan. My general perceptions have been much widened since, and they have helped me a lot in maintaining an all-round, yet detailed view in my activities. The MDGs campaign is a golden opportunity for youth to upgrade themselves in all terms, social knowledge, skills or a much needed common platform.
GN: Thanks for the idea. And the fact is, what you have done could be the great example of young people taking the initiative in changing their surroundings. You know, as a disabled person who is supposed to receive help from others, you now turn out to be the one who help young people become more useful. Do you have any specific plan for the future?
TVT: I never think of myself as a superb hero or a bright example for other people to follow. I believe anyone in my situation would have acted like me, and it is natural that I have made such choices and lived in such a way. I still haven’t got any definite plan for my future, but it is likely that I will come back to work for disabled people’s organizations. Many other organizations have offered me places, but I just want to contribute to the still weak movements for the disabled, after, of course, doing something in my current position.
|
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
Giang Nguyen
This user has not written anything in his panorama profile yet.
|
Comments
Hong-Anh Nguyen | Jul 1st, 2005
I still don't know this young man much, but my first impression on him was a bright smile that can light up others. Best wishes to him on the way ahead.
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
