Huynh Hue Lien is the owner of Dorcas hand embroidery workshop in Ho Chi Minh City. Her legs were paralysed and atrophied since she was 1. Despite that, at the age of 14, she began learning embroidery, and in 2006 she opened a workshop at home.
Here, Lien also teaches people with disabilities embroidery for free until they are qualified, and then offers them jobs. Every year, around 20 people are trained here to become qualified artisans.
Like Lien, Truong Thanh Quoc from Tien Giang is a successful businessman despite of his disabled legs. Quoc started off selling wooden photo frames, but when his supplier closed down, he decided to learn to make these souvenirs by himself. Now, his workshop of just 60 square meters produces over 1,000 frames and souvenir models every month.
Both Lien and Quoc are active members of a business club for people with disabilities, run by the Disability Research & Capacity Development Centre. This club, also known as DRD, has provided support and consultation for many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City and Lam Dong Province.
After 12 years in operation, the club has encouraged people with disabilities like Lien and Quoc to start businesses of their own and help others in the same situation.
