Onkyo Braille Essay Contest 2006 -- International Section (Asia-Pacific Region) ■ Highly Commended "BRAILLE - THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE" Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung (Vietnam: Male, 25-year-old) |
After graduating from the Breeding Department of Dak Lak Agriculture Technical Secondary School, I got work in the Dak Lak Honey-Bee Company. Later, I established my own bee farm with about 250 hives of bees. One day, while working, a careless accident got a small foreign matter into my eyes. My family brought me to many hospitals, and, after one year of seeking a cure to my eyes, I was finally told that I would never be normal again. I was in panic and thought of death. Darkness surrounded me. Then, through the radio, my only close friend, I heard about the Vietnam Blind Association and other Provincial Friendship Associations. I longed to be a member of the Association and to learn Braille. At last I took the bold decision to leave home. I would live on the money saved from the contributions of my brothers and sisters. I travelled to the nearest association known as the Khanh Hoi Blind Association and took up Braille. After mastering the skill, I moved to Hanoi in order to learn how to set up an association. I was warmly received by Mr. Dao Soat, President of the Vietnam Blind Association, and also by the Vice-President Mr. Cao van Thanh. They gave me guidance and materials on how to establish an association. I forgot about the tiredness of my long journey and found my way to the Voice of Vietnam broadcasting station. After listening to my plea, the News, Music and Information Department acknowledged that my demands and aspirations were legitimate and I was invited to attend a live interview on their "Saturday Guest" programme on VOV. Then I returned to my hometown with a cheerful heart and sent in my proposal to establish a blind association in the province. The proposal was approved by the authorities and they issued Decision No. 1041/QD-UB dated 6th March 2000 for a mobilising committee to be set up. Then came Decision No. 862/qd-UB dated 3rd April 2001 for the association to be established. This was a great source of happiness for me. I am sincerely grateful to Louis Braille who provided Braille as the source of light to the blind all over the world. The dots under my fingers changed my life and enabled me to realise my dream of opening up a massage and sauna centre. Now I can once again be the bee which carries out a kind of medical treatment - curing rheumatism by bee burning. Braille is indeed a friend that is leading my way to the future. |
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