Strong will makes miracles

With a strong will to live and always caring and sharing difficulties with people with disabilities, Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phuong is loved by everyone. Photo: Quang Minh

In particular, she is also the co-founder of the Disabled Coffee shop, which creates jobs and increases income for those who are unfortunate enough to share the same disability. Her name is Pham Thi Kim Phuong (42 years old), and everyone has given her the affectionate name: Crescent Moon.

Having a destiny with the profession of sewing ao dai

At nearly one year old, after a severe fever, Ms. Phuong became paralyzed in both legs. The family's efforts to treat her for many years, everywhere, only helped her legs to get stronger a little. Since childhood, Ms. Phuong focused on studying. However, the family's difficult economic conditions forced her to stop studying after graduating from high school, to go to work to earn more income. Until one day, Ms. Phuong took her mother on a 3-wheeled motorbike to sew ao dai, observing the tailor working, she suddenly felt interested and asked to learn the profession. At first, the shop owner refused because he thought that she had difficulty walking and would not be able to do it. However, on the day of the appointment to pick up the ao dai for her mother, Ms. Phuong was surprised by the tailor shop owner's agreement to let her become an apprentice. Normally, it takes about 12 months or more to learn how to sew, but after only 6 months of studying, Ms. Phuong asked for permission to "graduate" and start a business at home. And the profession of sewing ao dai came to her as a fate.

“As a disabled person, my health and all activities are more difficult than others, so I have to use my strengths to compensate for my weaknesses. I cultivate an optimistic and cheerful spirit to dispel sadness and sorrow. I use my strong will and resilience to overcome my own limits. The sewing profession also gives me many creative ideas like an artist, so I always find joy in my work.”
Ms. PHAM THI KIM PHUONG, residing in Binh Minh commune, Dong Nai province

With an optimistic and life-loving spirit, Ms. Phuong works hard every day. With a creative mindset, she has put her love for the profession into every needle and thread, creating graceful ao dai. From the meticulousness in welcoming customers, to the careful editing of every detail, ensuring suitability for each person, gradually, Ms. Phuong's tailor shop has attracted many customers from near and far to love and support.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Nga, a neighbor and regular customer of Ms. Phuong, shared: “A beautiful shirt is thanks to good fabric and eye-catching colors. But the perfect fit to each person's shape and figure is thanks to the skillful hands of the tailor, and Ms. Phuong can do that. Since Ms. Phuong opened a shop at home, we have always come to her to order clothes.”

Also satisfied with Ms. Phuong's technical skills, Ms. Pham Huyen My (residing in Ho Nai ward) became a regular customer because she loved Ms. Phuong's gentle nature, her gentleness, and her subtlety in understanding and responding to customers' psychology. Ms. My said: "Ms. Phuong not only tailors the exact parameters to fit each person's body, but also measures the trust of customers. I love Ms. Phuong's dedication to work and her will to live."

After 10 years of working in the ao dai sewing profession, from her skillful hands to her friendly and sociable lifestyle, Ms. Phuong's work and income have been stable.

And the Coffee Shop

More than 2 years ago (September 2023), with the help of acquaintances, Ms. Phuong and some close friends, who were unfortunately disabled, had the same aspirations to open a coffee shop to create jobs and increase income for some disabled people in difficult circumstances in the surrounding area and named the shop "Disabled Coffee". The shop's premises are quite beautiful, and Mr. Nguyen Cong Danh (residing in Ho Nai ward, Dong Nai province) supported free rent.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Danh said: “When I saw Phuong and her friends had the idea of opening a coffee shop to help people with disabilities find jobs, I fully supported it. I think that Phuong and her friends who are disabled and disadvantaged but still think for others, this is a noble gesture, not only me but many others must also respect, learn from and follow the example.”

“Ms. Pham Thi Kim Phuong is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bien Hoa Disabled People's Club, under the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Dong Nai Province. Overcoming her own shortcomings, Ms. Phuong not only creates graceful ao dai, creating opportunities to integrate into the community, eliminating self-confidence and inferiority complex for other disabled people, but also sends a message about the will to live, about love and sharing, which is a beautiful and very precious action.”
Ms. NGUYEN THI THUAN, Vice President of the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin in Dong Nai Province

To keep the shop running smoothly, Ms. Phuong directly researched and learned about making coffee and drinks online; at the same time, she arranged jobs suitable to each person's health condition.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Duy (residing in Long Binh ward, Dong Nai province) is paralyzed in both legs. Ms. Phuong and the co-founders hired him to work at the shop. Mr. Duy's job is to arrange and manage customers' motorbikes and cars. Mr. Duy said: "Having a job makes me feel valuable and have an income, thereby eliminating my inferiority complex."

After 2 years of establishment, the Cafe Khuyet has been operating more and more effectively, becoming a familiar address for many people. Currently, Ms. Phuong has handed over the management of the shop to her friends, because the Ao Dai tailor shop is in the end of the year season and has many customers. When she has time, she still visits her friends, thereby continuing to spread strong will to live, optimism, and love of life to everyone and the community.

Quang Minh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/nghi-luc-manh-me-lam-nen-ky-tich-14b6e41/