Bình grabs the opportunities given him at Hold the Future with both hands

A happy Ngô Duy Bình at Hold the Future

“What are you studying for? With those legs of yours you will not  be able to do anything”.  That’s what a neighbour told Ngô Duy Bình when he saw him working at his school assignments.

Bình, a young man of 22 living and studying at Hold the Future, had this thrown at him while still at school. Binh suffers from a muscle disease that affects his lower legs. The muscles have contracted and it makes it difficult for him to walk easily.

This is a disease that has affected several generations of his family. It started with his great grandfather, passed on to his grandfather and then his mother. Out of the three siblings in the family his oldest sister did not inherit the disease but he and his younger sister regrettably were recipients of these genes.

It seems however that the family is having physically able children now and the hope in the family is that this disease might have followed through its course and no longer affects the new generation. Both children born by his sisters are without this disability.

Explaining to a sceptical VSO volunteer Anja that the wood can get fixed.

Bình is originally from Lai Châu where he lived and went to school until the first year of high school. His school results had been excellent and he was placed in one of the top two classes.

But it was the constant ill treatment he received as a disabled person that finally got to him. Especially his relationship with his maths teacher deteriorated to such a degree that his anger finally boiled over and he gave up on school and found work in farming. It’s a decision he has regretted often.

Two years ago he heard about Hold the Future and moved to Hanoi to join the Centre. He loves working at handicrafts, enjoys learning new skills and hopes to eventually be able to go back to his home town and start a handicraft business.

These are some great photos taken by Simon Rawles on behalf of VSO. Hold the Future was fortunate to be chosen as one of the VSO placements to be photographed and Simon came from the UK to visit and to record our stories for VSO as well as for the Centre .

Director Lé Minh Hiền is viewing a final product.

Bình having fun with his handiwork.

Bình ended up explaining the skills he has learnt during his carpentry training to a whole group of visitors.  He  demonstrated the use of the measuring tools and electric saw to prepare wood pieces ready to be made into picture frames.

Even sub standard wood is usable as students at Hold the Future learn how to repair wood and fill blemishes until the piece is perfect for use as part of a decorative frame.

Picture frames are sold as separate items or used to frame some of the lovely handicraft work such as rolled paper art or embroidery work produced by disabled youth while working at the Centre. Please subscribe to our RSS by clicking on the orange feed icon or our emails by entering your email address. To view products visit the commercial site at http://vingaymai.com.