An early fall afternoon in September, we had a chance to visit Thuong Thuong Handmade, a social enterprise, lying in a corner of Luong Dinh Cua Street. The first impression upon entering the shop was that it was an incapacious space with a higher temperature in comparion to the relative coolness outside. In the room, youngsters were rolling paper and spreading glue to create unique handmade products…all of whom were people with special circumstances.

The limited space at the establishment of Thuong Thuong Handmade. (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

 “I hope you don’t mind this tiny space!” Nguyen Thi Thu Thuong, Director of Thuong Thuong Handmade Social Enterprise, smiled and warmly welcomed the guests from Vietnam Airlines.

While speaking with her, we learned that Thuong suffered from Osteogenesis Imperfecta, forcing her to use a wheelchair and requiring 24/7 assistance. However, she has always stayed positive. “Being sad doesn’t bring you anything. I started this business for myself at first, then for others under similar circumstances with inborn anemia, dialysis or persons with other disabilities. I hope they will get decent jobs, supporting not only themselves but their families, and also contribute to society.”Director of Thuong Thuong Handmade Social Enterprise Nguyen Thi Thu Thuong shared her story on her business (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

When asked about the specially fabricated cards from Thuong Thuong Handmade Mid-autumn for VNA, she said joyously, “having the opportunities to make cards for Vietnam Airlines is such an amazing experience for me! For so long now, I have wished that I could cooperate with the national flag carrier.  This opportunity seemed to be a shared destiny as Vietnam Airlines remembered me and decided to place an order for this years cards.” She continued, “the most touching thing is that my youngsters can have stable work and create wonderful cards that can ‘fly high’ with Vietnam Airlines!”

Persons with disabilities attentively stuck every single tiny detail to the cards (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

To come up with the ideas for 3 card samples, Thuong worked with Vietnam Airlines to select the most beautiful and meaningful designs. The first card sample utilized the image of an airplane with the moon in the sky and a rabbit peaking up his head which represents the dreams of children throughout the Mid-autumn festival night. The second model, dually impressive, was with the image of a golden lotus which are both VNA logo as well as the national flowers of Vietnam. This design conveys the hope that the younger generation will always strive for success, making themselves and their countries more forward-thinking, like a beautiful blooming lotus springing up to spread its delightful aroma. The last sample combined the image of the lotus and a lantern. Autumn could not be fulfilled without the lantern which is regarded as a symbol to illuminate and carry dreams along the wind all the way up to the moon. Thuong’s wish is that these lanterns will remind Vietnamese families of a warm Mid-autumn festival night.

Euphuistic and beautiful Mid-autumn card by Thuong handmade (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

 “We don’t dare take on too many orders as time is urgent. By the time Vietnam Airlines contacted me, it was nearly Mid-autumn. Moreover, all of our products are handmade so they cannot be massively produced, plus some of the health conditions of the fabricators are not good… so making these too fast is impossible.”

According to Thuong, Thuong Thuong Handmade always honors their customer’s demands to adjust the design, a process which may take over one day’s time to photoshop on the computer. She and her team will then select the materials, colors and other items that best fit the colors, thus helping to properly convey the meanings of the designs as well as helping to bring the final product to life.

 “Those who are able and scrupulous workers can make up to 3 cards, whilst others with worse health conditions can sometimes only produce 1 card,” she said.

Children on the Mid-autumn flight of VNA this Sept 13th will be pleasantly surprised with this meaningful gift (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

“What would you wish for Thuong Thuong Handmade if you were given a wish on the Mid-autumn festival night?” Upon being asked this question, she–with warmth in her eyes–quietly looked over at the children ardently working and said, “I just wish them good health, a feeling of passion for their work and as much confidence as possible in themselves as well as this life.”

Thuong quietly looked over at children with disabilities working (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

She turned back with a smiling face and said, “of course, if there are more agencies placing orders for our products, in-turn making them more popular, it would be perfect. Besides, these children have never had the chance to travel by plane. I hope the day comes when these children and I can enjoy a trip by plane to experience the feeling of being in the sky!”

We stayed with her for some time to see how the children work and listened to her detailed instructions from how to roll paper, choose colors, and spread the glue. Although she sweating while working and providing instruction, she did not seem to mind and continued on encouraging and guiding the children.

She enthusiastically instructed the children while they are working. (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

 “I hope children in Vietnam Airlines flights will feel the full efforts of the brothers and sisters who are affected by special circumstances but still overcome adversities to make these magnificently beautiful products. In spite of limited health conditions with intractable diseases and disabilities, these youngsters never give up their dreams of being good children and good people, striving to be independent and to make a living for themselves.”

After saying goodbye to Thuong and Thuong Thuong Handmade, we left but still heard her gentle and motivational voice sounding behind us.

“Mind your step, goodbye!”

Thuong Thuong Handmade wished all the children and families on Vietnam Airlines flights a safe trip and peaceful Mid-autumn night. (Photo: Xuan Nghia).

 Nguyen Xuan Nghia – COMM