To mark the National Day of Persons with Disabilities in Vietnam (April 18), USAID supported a series of celebrations and community events to advocate for disability rights. On April 15, a national workshop held in Hanoi with the theme “Inclusion and Adaptation – Shaping the future” was co-organized by USAID’s “Raising Voices, Creating Opportunities II” and “Inclusion” projects and attracted the in-person participation of 60 representatives from key government ministries and agencies, and local and international non-governmental organizations, as well as the virtual attendance of nearly 400 more. With USAID support, local organizations of and for persons with disabilities in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Tay Ninh, and Binh Dinh provinces organized various activities such as meetings, outdoor activities, a flower arranging contest, and a quiz on the disability law, to name just a few, with the participation of over 600 people with and without disabilities. In addition, USAID’s “Inclusion I” project launched an online painting competition with the theme of “A friendly and innocent world” for children in Vietnam to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day (April 2) and Vietnam National Day for Persons with Disabilities. This event aimed to create a space for children in Vietnam, particularly children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to express their views and their wishes for a society of understanding, friendliness, and inclusion.
Public awareness-raising events supported by USAID, which reached an audience of more than 1,000, have helped improve understanding of and empathy for persons with disabilities, focusing on their abilities, and advocating for their rights to live in a friendly and open society that promotes social inclusion and equality for all, and which improves the quality of life of vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities.
