The awards were presented during the closing ceremony of the contest, “Engraving Uncle Ho’s words - Shining examples of ‘disabled but not useless’,” held to mark the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth. The competition sought to share real-life stories of determination and resilience among visually impaired people across the country.
Among the winners were Nguyễn Kim Bằng, 60, from Tuy Phước Đông Commune, who received second prize, and 19-year-old Trần Trung Đức from Ia Pa Commune, who earned a consolation prize.
In his award-winning entry, “The hands of light continue to paint life”, Bằng recounted his journey from despair to renewed purpose after losing his sight in a traffic accident at the age of 50.
Born into a family with a strong revolutionary tradition, Bằng spent many years working as an art teacher, teaching painting and music. The accident abruptly ended the career he loved and left him struggling with hopelessness.
“There were times when I thought my life was over. What meaning is left for an art teacher who can no longer see the light”? he wrote.
His outlook changed after meeting others facing similar challenges and revisiting the story of President Ho Chi Minh’s 1956 visit to the School for Blind War Invalids in Hanoi, where he shared the message: “Disabled but not useless”.
According to Bằng, those words helped him realize that losing his sight did not mean losing his ability to contribute to society.
He went on to learn massage and acupressure therapy and began working at the Thế Tuấn Blind Massage Center in Quy Nhơn Nam Ward. He also became actively involved in the association of the blind, supporting fellow members and participating in community activities.
The hands that once held a paintbrush now help ease the pain of others, he said, describing his new profession as another way of creating value.
Trần Trung Đức’s story offers a different perspective, reflecting the determination of a young man who refused to allow blindness to define his future.
Affected by a rare eye disease, Đức lost his vision at an early age and faced significant obstacles, including interruptions to his education and feelings of isolation.
Despite those challenges, he chose to pursue learning. He mastered Braille, studied information technology and gradually integrated into society.
“When I was eight years old, I was asked, ‘Do you want to go to school?’ and I immediately answered, ‘Yes, I do’. That was not just an answer, but a burning desire”, Đức wrote.
He described his admission to the Nhật Hồng Center for the Visually Impaired in Ho Chi Minh City as a turning point in his life.
“There, I had friends, teachers and became a student with dreams. I learned Braille, studied general subjects and learned to integrate. The first steps were difficult, but I never stopped”, he said.
His efforts led to years of academic excellence, a full scholarship and second prize at the 2025 National Informatics Competition for the Visually Impaired. He now teaches information technology to other visually impaired children.
For Đức, the lesson embedded in President Ho Chi Minh’s words remains clear.
“Being disabled is not something I could choose, but whether I am useless or not is up to me. I believe that as long as I keep studying and helping others, I am still living a meaningful life,” he said.
Reflecting on the decade since losing his sight, Bằng said his greatest achievement was not simply overcoming personal hardship, but discovering new ways to continue “painting” life.
“The greatest value of a person does not lie in physical perfection, but in the resilient spirit to face challenges and redraw one’s own destiny. I may no longer see light with my eyes, but I can feel it with my heart”, he said.
Mai Thị Bích Thu, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Association of the Blind, said the competition attracted enthusiastic participation from members and staff, providing an opportunity for contestants to reflect on their own journeys of overcoming adversity.
“The most precious thing is not the awards, but the spirit of the participants. Each entry is a true story of overcoming inferiority and self-doubt to live a useful life”, Thu said.
She added that the contest demonstrated how President Ho Chi Minh’s message continues to resonate through the experiences of ordinary people whose resilience serves as an inspiration to others.
