On August 7, 2023, as part of the AIN8748 project, the research team conducted field surveys and interviewed key informants, the board of directors of the Tình Thương cooperative under the Phong Điền District Blind Association, Thua Thien Hue Province.
Dr. Tran Thi Phuong, the national coordinator, chaired the meeting. In it, the members of the board of directors of the cooperative shared their concerns about the current operation of the cooperative, the mechanisms and policies for creating jobs and income for members. In addition, the members also shared candidly about the challenges and challenges in the process of organizing and operating activities.
On the same day, the project also visited the households of members participating in the cooperative to better understand the situation and assess the real situation of the obstacles that the households are facing, from which they can build a basis to propose more practical support.
Key findings from the interviews and field surveys:
- The Tình Thương cooperative was established in 2020 with the aim of providing employment and income opportunities for people with disabilities in Phong Điền District.
- The cooperative currently has 20 members, all of whom are blind.
- The cooperative’s main activities are handicraft production, including weaving, basket weaving, and pottery.
- The cooperative has faced a number of challenges, including:
- Lack of access to finance
- Lack of marketing skills
- Lack of access to technology
Recommendations for support:
- The project recommends that the government provide financial support to the cooperative to help it expand its operations and improve its products.
- The project also recommends that the government provide training to the cooperative’s members in marketing and technology.
The interviews and field surveys conducted by the project provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the Tình Thương cooperative. The project’s recommendations for support are aimed at helping the cooperative overcome these challenges and achieve its goals of providing employment and income opportunities for people with disabilities in Phong Điền District.