The Blind Association of Dongnai province strengthens the belief of the blind

Presently, the Blind Association of Dongnai province manages 11 local units and one branch with about 1,138 members. In recent years, with great efforts of leaders, members and staffs of blind association at various levels and many practical activities, the Blind Association of Dongnai province has built and strengthened the belief of thousands of blind people in the renovation launched by the Government and Party. The Association has played a significant role in stabilizing the social security.

Its major task is to create works and jobs for the blind because by working the blind will have income. Thus, their lives are more stable and their roles and positions in their families as well as in the society will be enhanced. As a result, they will find it easy to integrate with the community. Over the past five years, the Association has carried out 55 projects to use the national fund to support 1,036 people with the total amount of over 2.5 billion VND and lend money to 325 people with the total amount of 95 million VND from the Sweden Development International Fund as to help the blind people to do their own businesses in all fields such as: animal husbandry, planting, handicraft, services…In addition, the association coordinates with Agriculture Promotion Center to open 36 training courses on animal husbandry, planting and animal, plant disease prevention and fighting  for over 1,26 people

Its ultimate activities are to help the blind people to become more independent and not to rely on the families and society; to effectively carry out many projects to lend money to the blind to help them do their own businesses and to find suitable jobs for its members. In the last term, the association at various levels has opened 6 vocational training courses on weaving plastic hand baskets and making broom for 60 members; set up 11 physiotherapy centers and educated massagers

Thank to these efforts, the living standard of the blind have been radically improved. At the begin of the last term, 29.2% of its members lives in poor conditions. But now the number of poor household is just about 19.7% according to the new poor norm applying for the period of 2006-2010.

Besides helping the blind to get rid of poverty, the association also organizes many art and music activities as to improve the spiritual lives of its members as well as to help them to exchange and study with each other. Especially, the opening of such clubs as: population-Law, population-family, Youth and Will, for the happiness of the blind, the light of hope… has become the favorite activities of the blind.

In the last term, Dongnai Blind Association has been appraised as excellent unit by the Vietnam Blind Association, provincial People’s committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee. One member has been awarded the certificate of merit by the Prime Minister, 1 group and 2 individuals receive certificate of merit granted by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalid and Social Affairs; 16 groups and 46 individuals are appraised by the Vietnam Blind Association, 5 groups and 6 individuals are awarded certificates of merits bye the provincial people’s Committee.  

The congress has selected the new executive board of the Dongnai Blind Association consisting 14 members. Mr. Le Danh Cat is reelected as the chairperson of the association.

(Translated by THKC)