White Cane Initiative at Vietnam International Innovation Exhibition 2021

WHITE CANE INITIATIVE at VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION EXHIBITION 2021 (9-10 Jan 2021).

The event was honored to welcome Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, and other ministers.

The booth "Community Development Program and White Cane Initiative for the Vietnamese blind" is located at the center of the exhibition, left a deep impression on visitors by showing different blind-made walking canes made of bamboo, wood, water pipes as well as popular white canes in the world!

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nguyet (visually impaired) was able to shake hands with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and then introduced BlindLink and the white cane journey to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. Ms. Trieu Thi Hue (blind) received the Prime Minister's protection when the security team pushed her out of his aisle and was tapped on the shoulder by Minister Nguyen Chi Dung with his compliment "Do your best!" while being surrounded by hundreds of journalists and fellow students!

This is a historic moment for our blind fellows and we do hope that in the near future, all blind people in all corners of the country will proudly show up on the streets by walking with the white canes like their counterparts all over the world. The attention and support of high-ranking officials definitely will inspire many pioneers to continue to make a difference in the community.

On the morning of Jan 9th, getting up early in the cold winter to join this one-of-a-kind event, all the team felt very happy and proud !!!!

From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Minister Nguyen Chi Dung of MPI, Ms. Phan Thi Thuy Tram, and the Community Development Program for offering us such a precious opportunity!

We also would like to extend our gratitude to: Hoan Kiem Blind Association, Hanoi and the Chairman Mr. Hoang Van Ly (visually impaired), Ninh Binh Blind Association (Deputy Chairman Pham Quang Giang - blind) and the Rehabilitation Center for the Vietnamese Blind (Mr. Pham Xuan Truong) and students at BlindLink (Dao Xuan Trung - visually impaired) joined in providing canes to display at the exhibition.