Hanoi independent living center for people with disabilities

A brand new handicapped and disabled center has been launched in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, that teaches the disabled to build self confidence, and how to be more independent in their every-day life.

The center is the brain child of the "Bright Future Group," a member of the Society of Support for Hanoi Handicapped and Orphans (SSHHO). They recently opened the project with a celebratory conference called “Independent living center for people with disabilities” in Hanoi.

Participants of project at opening ceremony in Hanoi

The project, is jointly sponsored by the Nippon Foundation and the Disabled People’s Organization in Asia Pacific (DPIAP), and will be supported by these organizations over the next three years (2009-2011).

This dynamic project is seen as a chance for disabled people to gain more practical living skills that will help integrate them into society, and will be carried out by the Bright Future Group with the additional financial support of the Hanoi Disabled People’s Association (HDPA).

Opening conference at Hanoi independent living center for people with disabilities

The independent living center aims to support each disabled individual so that he or she can develop to their maximum potential in their family, and in some cases even reach a stage where they can live alone.

The training starts with the basics, for example, doing such practical things as dressing and undressing oneself, as well as being able to ask for help without embarrassment to use a public toilet.

Ms Hong Ha, Representative of Hanoi Center

Nguyen Hong Ha, head of the Bright Future Group said the center was inspired by the dynamic and active attitude and activities of a group of disabled Japanese in a mission to Hanoi, adding that Vietnam should give more help to disabled people, as they do in Japanese society. “I will learn from Shoji Nakanishi, chairman of the Disabled People’s International Asia Pacific, to conduct this project in a move to help disabled people live, work and recognize their talents just like anyone else,” said Ha.

Mr Shoji Nakanishi, President of Disabled People's International Asia Pacific

Mr. Nakanishi, who is disabled, and several other Japanese with disabilities accompanied him to the Hanoi opening ceremony of the new center. He gave a lecture on his experiences with the history and philosophy of independent living centers in various countries. His talk was entitled "What is An Independent Living Center?"

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the project, Mitsuo Sakaba, Japanese Ambassador in Vietnam expressed a desire for disabled people to receive the best support possible in Vietnam.

The independent living movement began in the US in the 1960s with the establishment of social organizations and centers managed by the disabled to help their peers. The movement has since spread to Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and European countries.

Yoko Yokouchi

Among others who visited the opening ceremonies of the new center were Vice Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), Mr. Bui Hong Linh, and Mr. Takeju Ogata, President of the Nippon Foundation. (With editorial thanks to Yoko Yokouchi, member of the International Affairs Group of the Nippon Foundation who attended the Hanoi ceremony.)