Goto main content

Nuan: "People with disabilities don’t want to be a burden”

Inclusion
Laos

Nuan is 34 years old. She was born with polio in her left leg. HI has provided her with seed money to raise livestock.

Portrait of Nuan.

Portrait of Nuan. | © HI

Born with a disability, Nuan faces discrimination and struggles to provide for her family.

Hardships in her daily life

As a child, Nuan was bullied because of her disability and was unable to complete her schooling because her family couldn't afford to pay the fees.

Today she is 34 years old. She is married and has children. She is a farmer, but because of her disability and the fact that her husband also has health problems, they do not earn enough to pay for their son's education or save money for emergencies.

HI provides training and financial support

Nuan is a beneficiary of HI's livelihood support project, receiving financial assistance for her animal husbandry activity. Nuan has 14 ducks, 12 chickens and 2 pigs.

"Even though we do things differently from other people, we should not be despised and discriminated against because we have a disability. We want to be independent, not to be a burden. I really appreciate all the efforts made to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities”.

Nuan

Her social and community life

Portrait of Nuan.With HI, she has participated in a training course on disability and inclusion. She is now a disability “champion” in her village.

Because of her never-say-die attitude, Nuan has been asked to lead the village women's union. She helps other people with disabilities or mobility problems. When the village receives donations of food or clothing, she helps distribute it to the community and ensures that people with disabilities are given equal treatment.

Date published: 20/12/22

COUNTRIES

Where we work

Read more

When collective cooking brings back social cohesion
© HI
Health Inclusion

When collective cooking brings back social cohesion

After a decade of conflict, mistrust is still prevalent in Central African communities. To recreate safe spaces, HI has been reaching out to these communities to organise collective activities.

Thanks to a more inclusive and accessible environment, Mario can now go back to school
© Screen Imagem / HI
Inclusion

Thanks to a more inclusive and accessible environment, Mario can now go back to school

Mario Monteiro is a young man who lives in Mozambique. At school, he used to be mocked and shunned, but since HI supported him, he has made friends and can pursue his dreams.

3 things you should know about... Bamboo!
© Philippe Merchez / Handicap International
Emergency Explosive weapons Health Rehabilitation Rights

3 things you should know about... Bamboo!

Bamboo grows naturally in about twenty of the countries in which HI works. A historic symbol of our operations, bamboo is regularly used by our teams, particularly in Asia.

FOLLOW US