The Winner Takes It All
Interviewed by Tran Quang Thuan – Senior National Disability and Technical Health Officer
Written by Nguyen Kim Ngan – Communications
Tam has only had one hand since she was born – a difference that as a girl isolated her from others in her community in the central province of Quang Tri and fostered her shyness.
Now 32 years old, Tam smiled as she described how her life transformed after she took up sport in her early twenties, helping her to shrug off her previous inhibitions and learn the value of her life.
“Sports have improved my life hugely. I’m more open and confident and I don’t feel a burden on my family anymore,” said the single mother from Trieu Phong district. “I’ve also received some money for my wins, but it’s not much.”
Tam has a large collection of medals. She has won eight silver and bronze medals at the ASEAN Para Games – a biennial multi-sports event for physically disabled athletes that follows every Southeast Asian Games – including at the latest instalment held in Myanmar in 2013. She has also won 30 gold medals in national competitions, participating in both swimming and the athletic disciplines of javelin, discus and long jump.
To achieve her victories, she has faced many obstacles. Every year, she leaves her son with her parents in her hometown and travels to Ho Chi Minh City to train for eight to nine months. However, the financial aid she receives for her sporting endeavours is not enough to cover the relatively high cost of living in Vietnam’s commercial capital and to send some money back home, so she usually has to take on extra work.
“I used to sell lottery tickets or shoes on the street when I wasn’t training,” recalled Tam. “But passers-by would sometimes make fun of my disability, which made me feel unhappy about myself.”
Tam also faces financial difficulties when she returns home because locals are reluctant to take her on full-time given that she will only be around for a few months. “I’ve had to do very small jobs, like weeding and harvesting bananas and beans, and I have to use my feet as well as my hand to do it,” she revealed.
But Tam is not alone on her challenging journey. World Vision gave her the chance to join a network of other local people with difficulties and Tam first joined in with activities specifically organised for the group in 2003.
In 2007, World Vision worked with the district’s local authorities to establish a club for people with disabilities in her community. Tam signed up for the club immediately and soon found it brought her many benefits, including the use of the sports equipment that the organisation had given to it.
“I borrowed a javelin and a discus because I couldn’t afford them. I practised throwing them every day and, after a while, I won a number of tournament prizes in both events,” she said.
“The members of the club meet once a month and we take care of each other, sharing both the good and bad things in our lives,” Tam explained. “They’ve helped me whenever I’ve needed it and they understand my situation because we’re all in the same boat.”
Apart from emotional support and equipment supplies, World Vision has provided assistance with money-making opportunities for members of clubs such as Tam’s. “At least half of the people in my club have been given cows and trained in how to raise them, which has helped them overcome financial difficulties,” she said.
Tam is currently suffering from a herniated disc, but despite this, she intends to continue training to take part in forthcoming sports events.
“All people with disabilities have their own challenges. Many of them have worse problems than me, but I hope they can overcome them so they can lead normal lives,” Tam concluded.
Background information
World Vision provided support to establish the first club for 55 people with disabilities in Trieu Phong district in 2002. Currently, nine separate clubs are in operation, which allow more than 700 people to participate in their activities.
Members of the clubs have attended activities to raise awareness of topics relevant to their lives, such as laws affecting people with disabilities and the prevention of human trafficking. They have also participated in music shows and sports competitions and have joined vocational and animal husbandry training courses. In addition, World Vision has allowed many of them and their spouses to gain access to micro credit and other ways to generate income.