My name is Pham Ngoc Hien. I was born in Binh Tan District, near the airport of HCMC. My birthday is the 26th of September 1984. There are 6 people in my family, my parents, 2 older sisters, 1 younger sister and myself. My father is a truck driver, my mother is a housewife. My oldest sister is disabled. The other sisters are normal and are studying and working.

I had studied to be a kindergarten teacher. I did not like to work with children at first but the more I teach, the more I like this job. There was a Friday morning that I could never forget. It was on the 10th of November 2006, my mother woke me up to go to work. When I got up, I felt dizzy and went into a coma for about 3 to 4 days. The doctor said I had a stroke; half of my right side was paralysed. I cried a lot but luckily my mother was with me all the time to comfort and encourage me. I was upset and lonely. My mother spent days to take me to the hospital to improve my right side. I loved my mother more than ever. I convinced her to let me stay home and live with my disability. I stayed at home for about 6 years. I helped mother with all the house work. I would smile to show her that I was happy but deep inside, I was so sad.

Then there was a day which changed my whole life, Miss Linh from the Agent Orange department visited and asked me if I wanted to go to work. I was so happy and said yes. Miss Linh introduced me to the Company of Grace to work as a child care-giver. Most of my family did not like this idea but my father encouraged me to go ahead. I then decided to give it a try.

Since I worked here, I have learnt many new things like English and computer skills. I now have a love for other people with disabilities. I have set a goal for myself that I would study English hard so that in the future, I can teach English to the children with disabilities. I hope to help them to gain confidence and hope.

We believe we are unique in that 90% of all our staff have a disability (as we still need 10% who are abled bodied to do all the things that people with disability can’t do). Not only that, but these staff with disability are actually managing and running the Grace centre.

Needs

Each of our staff with disability needs support to help them with operation, further training & education to help them find employment, and mobility equipment.If you have any further enquiry please email us: info@companyofgrace.com