Sewing hope into the fabric of life

Nguyễn Duy Long, a father of a daughter who suffers cerebral palsy, opens a free class of teaching sewing to disabled people in Hà Nội. Photo vov.vn

HÀ NỘI – For the past ten years, with the hope of providing a better life for vulnerable women, Nguyễn Duy Long, from the Hai Bà Trưng District of Hà Nội, has dedicated himself to teaching free sewing classes to disabled women.

Long is the father of a 14-year-old daughter who lives with cerebral palsy. He has developed a deep understanding of the difficulties faced by people with disabilities through his years of caring for his daughter.

“My 14-year-old daughter cannot go to school, cannot eat, cannot think; she just lies in one place,” he explained.

“When she was born, my daughter was a perfectly healthy baby. But after suffering a high fever and convulsions, she experienced brain damage after being treated in hospital for about two days,” the father recalled of the difficult time 14 years ago.

Despite being unable to walk and relying on others for all activities, the greatest consolation for his daughter, Điệp, is having a kind and loving father who cares for her unconditionally. Long always gives Điệp extra love to compensate for her misfortunes.

Long once owned a tailoring shop but had to close it to take his daughter for treatment.

“During that time, I closed the shop. We spent three years going from hospital to hospital for acupuncture, but nothing worked. I felt immense sorrow for my child,” Long said.

“For several years, I couldn’t do anything, spending all our money on treatments everywhere.”

Despite the hardships that often made him think of giving up, the sacred bond between father and daughter gave him the strength to overcome the pain and support his daughter for the past 14 years.

“At night, I thought about my daughter and cried, but I realised I had to do something meaningful with my life,” Long said.

After this ordeal, he revived his tailoring shop and, alongside it, opened a class offering free sewing lessons to disabled women and those in difficult circumstances.

“I opened the free class to teach sewing to disabled people. I named the class ‘Phố Xưa’ – Old Street – to reflect looking to the past,” he said. “I wanted to help people with disabilities to have stable jobs.”

Despite being busy with work and taking care of his daughter, his small house is always filled with optimism and love. To Điệp, her father is her entire world and her safest place.

Long’s boundless love for his daughter became the motivation for him to continue his work and help many others with unfortunate lives.

Lê Thanh Huyền, one of Long’s students, said, “Long has a sympathetic understanding of the difficulties faced by disabled people, so he tries to help them.”

Long is instructing a learner in his class. Photo vov.vn

Most disabled students who attend Long’s sewing class need to start learning from scratch with the simplest steps.

Long explains that he tailors his training approach depending on the type of disability each student has.

“Each student has different disabilities. For example, for those with leg disabilities, I add a pedal to adjust the machines for easier learning,” Long explained.

The nine students currently learning in Long’s class each have unique needs. He tutors each one individually, with each following a different programme. Long sees himself as a fellow student rather than an expert, conveying knowledge in the most understandable way.

Overcoming her own disabilities, Vũ My Lan from Nam Định Province has always dreamed of learning a skill to support herself and her family. The sewing lessons at Long’s class have transformed this disabled woman’s life.

Lan said, “I was born with six joint disabilities in my legs and walk on the tops of my feet. My height is 1.24m. Long helps me immensely. He prepared a special chair and table for me. He even lets me stay at his home like a family member.”

Amid the rush of life, a moment of pause can reveal many beautiful things. Long’s kind stitches not only create beautiful outfits but also bring smiles and hope to the disadvantaged.

After mastering sewing skills, Nguyễn Thị Như Thêu from Nam Định Province has taken control of her life and gained confidence.

She opened her own tailoring shop in her hometown and returned to Long to learn advanced techniques.

“I studied with Long for a while and then opened my shop in my hometown. After completing the course, I felt confident, and my dream of opening a tailoring shop was no longer out of reach,” Thêu happily shared.

Long’s home has become both a classroom and a sanctuary for his special students.

He often tells his students that no matter the job, if you put your heart into it, you will eventually succeed.

Long and some of his learners. Photo vov.vn

Despite the hardships and challenges, Long feels that his efforts are worthwhile when he sees his disabled students transforming their lives and becoming independent.

“I feel proud when my students become self-sufficient with the skills I taught them. Initially, they faced many difficulties, but eventually, they succeed. I feel proud,” he said.

For disabled women, pursuing dreams is much more challenging than it is for those without disabilities. However, thanks to Long’s help and their own efforts, his students have demonstrated that perseverance can lead to success, regardless of one’s circumstances.

Amid the hustle and bustle of life, a moment of pause can reveal many beautiful things. Long’s kind stitches not only create beautiful outfits but also bring smiles and hope to the disadvantaged. VNS