This program was started in 2003 with a first group of  four  women who were trained for six months. 

For two of  them we extended the training so that they could become instructors to another group of  four, 

and from mid 2004 until now the trainer is only Ms Phan Thuy Phuong who is now a skilled computer instructor 

able to train also low vision and sighted students.

Although official figures are not available, we easily noticed that blind women in Vietnam have less access to education.

To have a blind child in Vietnam is quite a cultural and a social problem for most families and when the child is a girl 

the solution is often to keep her in the house.

In our experience in Vietnam  we met blind women working as  unskilled labour, such as making toothpicks, 

or trained as masseuses to provide a service at 20% of the market price for a 1 hour massage. Why?

During our visits to the five schools for the blind  and to blind associations in Vietnam we never had the chance 

to meet a woman in the teaching profession or as the head of a provincial blind association. Why?

Instead of looking for answers we decided to do something and we started the program in collaboration 

with the local blind associations. They would select and suggest the women to be trained according to 

certain necessary basic requirements. 

By acquiring computer skills the blind women discover a world of knowledge and communication tools available 

to them in their own language. They can learn school subjects by themselves, access information, listen to music, 

play games, read books and finally play a role in their communities when they go back home after the training.

When we decided to start this program we made a choice in favour of a category of people who are among 

the most neglected.

The women stay in the Center for a term of three months that can be extended if necessary. 

The Center offers them free accomodation, so the trainees leave their place of residence and live togheter 

at the Center for three months. They learn togheter, help each other and make new friends. 

Then they go back with new tools and a new perception of the world. 

* She was first trained and is now tutor in the Program. 

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