 Artisan Hoang Thi Khuong works meticulously on each stitch. (Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5) |
At the workshop run by Khuong in Quat Dong village, seven women are patiently guiding their needles to create delicate patterns. Some need to rest their arm on a chair beside them to ease the strain. Some can only embroider a few stitches before needing to lie down. The more skilled artisans silently finish their pieces while the newer ones try hard to remember what the instructions were.
All of them have a physical or intellectual disability. Artisan Hoang Thi Khuong has conducted many free embroidery classes for people with or without disabilities from Quang Ninh, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh province. Do Thi Loan, who had been unemployed, became more confident after learning to embroider.
"Embroidery helped me overcome my feelings of inferiority as a person with a disability. Now that I know how to embroider, I can earn an income and support myself," said Loan.
 Hoang Thi Khuong opens free embroidery classes for people with disabilities. (Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5) |
Vu Lan Anh, who has an intellectual disability and struggled to learn, is now able to create beautiful products and earn some money for her family. "I was very happy learning from Ms. Khuong. At first, I found embroidery very difficult, but now I can finish a product.”
These former students of Khuong are now her colleagues in her embroidery workshop. Khuong now wants to inspire others in similar circumstances to believe in a brighter future.
"As a person with a disability, I used to feel very shy when meeting others. But in 2012, when I started taking part in community exchanges, my life turned a page. I learned how to communicate and connect with people more confidently,” Khuong said.
Born and raised in Quat Dong, one of Hanoi’s most famous embroidery villages, Khuong suffered a high fever as an infant that left one leg paralyzed. Her childhood was filled with quiet days watching her friends play, and getting teased about her disability. Her only comfort came from sitting at her embroidery frame, learning basic and then more advanced techniques from her mother.
Because of the difficulty she had walking, Khuong’s only travel was via books, newspapers, and television. The beautiful scenes she saw there were creatively reimagined in her artistic embroidery.
“My family has practiced embroidery for generations. I want to introduce my village’s products and my family’s work to others. I feel a responsibility to preserve my homeland’s beauty and my family’s traditions,” said Khuong.
 The embroidery workshop of Hoang Thi Khuong employs 15 people with disabilities. (Photo: Huyen Trang/VOV5) |
In 2012, Khuong took her embroidery pieces to a competition in South Korea. Seeing how confident and well-integrated people with disabilities were in Korea, she was inspired to start her own embroidery workshop in order to provide jobs and social recognition to others with disabilities in Vietnam. Khuong’s workshop now employs 15 people including Tran Van Tuong.
"I really admire Ms. Khuong. Despite her disability, she is dedicated to preserving the traditional craft. She also teaches those less fortunate. For people with limited physical ability, this work suits us well. Without it, life would be very hard and lonely. This craft gives us both joy and independence," said Tuong.
Emeritus Artisan Hoang Thi Khuong has received numerous awards at home and abroad. Her embroidery pictures have been displayed at international exhibitions and received high praise from viewers. But she said her most valuable reward is seeing people with disabilities gain confidence and integrate into society.