Blind man finds the light from education

(VNF) – Huynh Huu Canh, a young man with visual impairment has become one of three handicapped Vietnamese who recently receive the Australia Awards Scholarship 2017.

Karen Lanyon, Consul General of Australia in Vietnam congrats three handicapped scholarship recipients to study in Australia. (source: GD&TĐ)

Together with 51 other recipients of the Australia Awards Scholarship, Canh is going to leave Vietnam to experience an Australian-standard education soon. In the next two years, he will pursue his Master degree in Social Work in Flinders University.

“The scholarship from the Australian government helps me realize my dream. Being a visually impaired person, I truly understand the hardship that someone with disabilities have to overcome, in order to fully express their capabilities and become a citizen with contribution to society.”

Canh was born in 1985 in the Southern province of Kien Giang. He lost his vision in an unexploded ordnance accident at the age of 8. The incident was a huge shock to his family and himself, since Canh is the only son among the household's six children. Because of blindness, he could not continue his schooling.

“My parents did not know about any specializing school for the blind then. I therefore had to stay home until I was 12 years old, when I started to learn my first grade program using the Braille system. After one year, I re-took my 4th grade programme and later completed my high school education."

From an agile, energetic boy, the explosion took away Canh's vision and turned him into a quiet boy. The boy was deeply desperated as blindness had limited even the most simple activity, such as walking.

He could not see the colors, the lights, could not see how the person who was talking to him look like. His mind went dark, since blindness covered his world.

"I have gone through time of depression. I thought I was a useless person without being able to see. Nevertheless, I still live, learn and work like everybody. I wish that other disadvantaged people will know how to choose a positive attitude, no matter how difficult life is. Because it is the only way for us to truly 'live', instead of merely 'exist'.

After graduating from highschool, Canh was exceptionally accepted to pursue bachelor programme in the Faculty of Special Education, University of Education in HCM.City, where he graduated with first-class degree.

However, his career path was uneasy. Even though people everywhere showed him their admiration and respect, his CV was still turned down.

With his perserverance, Canh later found a job in a private kindergarten opened by a handicapped in Binh Duong province, and later was recruited by Kien Giang province’s Social Support Center.

Nowadays, Canh has become a mature man with positive mindset, who chooses to live life to the fullest. Besides working, in his free time, Canh loves playing the piano, guitar, and spends time teaching disadvantaged children in the Center.

Canh plays keyboard in an art programme (source: thanhnien)

Canh's effort has paid off, since he successfully attained the Australia Awards Scholarship 2017. It is an award for his excellent academic result, dedication to social work and hard work in learning English (mostly self-study).

"After completing my Master degree in Australia, I plan to come back to Vietnam, where I’ll apply what I have learnt to launching a center providing mental health consultancy service for the disabled and other vulnerable groups.” Canh said.

In addition, he will open some English classes for people with disabilities in Vietnam, since English skill is highly important in helping them seek employment opportunities, Canh added.

Canh also encouraged other candidates with disabilities to take proactive step in applying for Australia Award Scholarship, as the programme is a fair playground, providing even opportunities for them to grow. "The only thing you need to do is to put effort in it. The obstacles you have to deal with in terms of physical impairment and living condition have trained your amazing iron will. What you need is a proper environment and even opportunity."

The Australian government specially pays attention to encouraging and supporting handicapped people's development, especially through education. This priority has been incorporated in many programmes launched by the government, including the Australia Awards Scholarship.

The Australian Awards Scholarship is an international-accredited scholarship sponsored by the Australian government, presenting to the leaders of future generations. The scholarship is considered an opportunity for talented people to further their learning, research and deepen their profession in Australia.

Australia has been partnering with Vietnam in granting scholarships for outstanding Vietnamese students since 1973, which vastly helps Vietnam develop quality human resources.

The new scholarship holders are one among 6,000 Vietnamese who have benefited from the Australia Awards Scholarship./.

( Translated by Phi Yen )