Nguyen Thi Van and her "mission" to the disabled community

Turn disadvantages into advantages, turn weaknesses into strengths,

People with disabilities are no different.

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In 2008, Ms. Nguyen Thi Van set foot in Hanoi, a land that made her feel something very close, like the place where she belonged. She decided to stay in Hanoi. She and 3 friends stayed at the teachers' dormitory, National University. Back then, after every meal, she left her room, because she was afraid of wasting electricity sitting in the room. At 1 pm, she went to the market, hoping to find some cheap food, or leftovers that they would bring back for her to eat. Ms. Van lived like that, her meals almost only consisted of one traditional dish of roasted peanuts and dried fish sent by her family... Those days passed, when she found a better job at the Danish Company, from here, she and her brother Cong Hung continued to bring disabled young people from the countryside. Sometimes, her apartment had up to 14 people staying together, contributing rice, vegetables, studying and learning about IT together.

Ms. Van and her brother had more companions. At first, they were friends, volunteers supporting the center, then became co-founders of the Will to Live Center. They did everything together, from working part-time, making handmade products to sell, designing websites, managing websites or writing articles for companies... to have money to maintain the center's operations. In that difficult time, a big shock came to them. Information knight Nguyen Cong Hung suddenly passed away during a business trip in the South. Feeling sad and missing her brother, Van was also empty and worried because she did not know how to support the center in the coming days? On one hand, she managed to raise funds for the center's operations, on the other hand, she focused on promoting the brand of Will to Live, opening more classes, and constantly updating new information on the official fanpage.

During the difficult time, Ms. Van came up with the idea: Why don't I do business or do something to earn more income? With money, I can help more people. During her working life, she saved 100 million VND for when she got sick, but she decided to use that money, and with her friends, to build Imagtor Company - a company specializing in photo editing for international real estate and e-commerce businesses.

Imagtor's outstanding features are speed and stability in quality. Imagtor will return the finished product to customers within 24 hours of receiving the order. Customers stick with Imagtor because of price and quality, and also accompany Imagtor in creating positive values ​​for disadvantaged communities. Therefore, after only 1 year of establishment, Imagtor was ranked 1 in the top 25 best social enterprises in Asia, valued by an organization in Singapore at 2.4 million USD, 480 times higher than its initial value. In 2018, at Asia's largest social innovation competition called Social Venture Asia, Imagtor won 3 awards at once: Social enterprise in the field of technology application, social enterprise in the field of education, and potential social enterprise of Asia.

40% of the workers in Imagtor are disabled people, Ms. Van has proven that the products of disabled people are also perfect and they can completely live on their legitimate income. In Imagtor company, from the hallway, the entrance door, the desk, the meeting place or even the smallest restroom are all designed to suit the characteristics of disabled people. Van has opened a sunny path for disabled people to confidently assert themselves and live their dreams to the fullest.

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New pages of life have opened up for disabled children when they come to the Will to Live Center and are introduced to work at Imagtor. Nguyen Manh Dung, from Hoa Binh ward, Phu Tho province, is such a life.

For more than 10 years, Dung did not dare to leave the house, because he was afraid of meeting people, afraid of the words: "You cripple!". Dung locked himself in four walls and only knew how to look at his phone. Many times, Dung did not know why he lived. But, he was afraid of hurting his parents, so every day he endured, endured a life without light, without hope.

Then I went to the Will to Live Center, I started learning from the first letters, and started practicing writing. Holding a pen was very difficult. With effort, I was able to write. At first, it was stroke by stroke, then letter by letter, and now, Dung has written fluently like everyone else, becoming a diligent employee of Imagtor Joint Stock Company. Dung's life has stabilized, lighting up joy and the desire to live in him.

In 2019, receiving the Honorary Red Star Entrepreneur Award, Ms. Nguyen Thi Van shared her desire to serve and help people with disabilities and the less fortunate with members of the Red Star Entrepreneurs Club. Love from the heart has connected to the heart. In October 2022, Willpower to Live Joint Stock Company - Social Enterprise was born. From here, on the S-shaped strip of land, there have been more centers, many types of training, many new jobs opened for people with disabilities, giving new opportunities. Up to now, from its predecessor, the Willpower to Live Center, Willpower to Live Joint Stock Company - Social Enterprise has trained IT and life skills for over 1,500 people with disabilities, with a rate of 70% of students having jobs.

In this common house, the children shared with each other meaningful, pure, peaceful youth days. There was no more inferiority complex, no more shyness, everyone shared with each other all the joys and sorrows in life. With the goal of connecting the community, creating new spaces and experiences for people with disabilities in the integration process, Will to Live organized many meaningful programs such as: Annual fashion show for women with disabilities: "I am beautiful. You too!", running contest "You raise me up", Singing contest for students of Will to Live... There, there was no more inferiority complex, or confidence, no more shyness, or hesitation, people with disabilities were confident to show their strengths, talents...

Many students, after working, returned to Will to Live, as an inseparable piece. Mr. Vu Phong Ky recounted: “In 2014, becoming a student of Will to Live was a turning point that changed my life. From being a severely disabled person with no future and no job, I was able to catch up with life and have the opportunity to find a job. Returning to Will to Live, I am willing to share, so that people in the same situation as me have more opportunities to change their lives.”

With tireless efforts, Ms. Nguyen Thi Van has been realizing her aspiration for the disadvantaged in general, and the disabled in particular, to have a happy and free life. Her aspiration and successes open up dreams for the disabled, giving them confidence and motivation to continue trying.

There is no limit for people with disabilities in realizing their dreams. Ms. Nguyen Thi Van believes:“No matter who you are, man or woman, rich or poor, with or without disabilities, everyone is born equal in dignity and rights, has the right to be treated with respect and to develop personal values”.Van believes that a good life will come to those with strong will and noble souls, who desire to improve their self-worth, and seek and learn to surpass themselves.