(VOVWORLD) - Ho Ket, a young man with disability in the central province of Quang Binh was an honoree of the 2022 Shining Vietnamese Will program. Ket, of the Khua ethnic group, overcame his disability to preserve the traditional craft of his home village.
 Ho Ket works on a rattan product. (Photo: VOV) |
Ho Ket is a skilled artisan who lives in Trong Hoa commune and makes bamboo and rattan products.
Ket was born with no disability, but in 2005, when he was 17, he had an accident while working in the field. He was badly burnt and became disabled. Born into a poor family with many children, Ket did not receive much education, and his life became even harder after the accident.
Not surrendering his bad luck, Ket began retraining his limbs to do simple work. Then, he learned to raise chickens, pigs, and cattle. In 2009, he got married.
4 years later, with the support of the Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Quang Binh province, Ket learned bamboo and rattan weaving at Van Xuan Handicraft Export Company and soon won first prize at a local competition.
Ket says when he was young, he watched the senior craftsmen in his village and learned some basic techniques. After formal training, Ket was able to create more sophisticated patterns. Eventually, Ket returned to his home village and began teaching locals the bamboo and rattan weaving craft in the hope of preserving and developing this tradition.
“I’m not as lucky as others, but I do my best to support myself and my family. I earn a good income now from bamboo and rattan weaving, and I want to teach the craft to others,” said Ket.
To increase his sales, Ket uses social media like Facebook and Zalo to promote his products, which are appreciated for their sophistication, durability, utility, and environment-friendly qualities.
 One of Ket's products. (Photo: VOV) |
To improve his skills, he sought further training and joined Minh Hoa district’s club for young persons with disabilities.
“Ho Ket always does his best to overcome his disability. He is a great role model for other Youth Union members,” said Ho Thao, Secretary of Trong Hoa’s communal Youth Union.
Soldiers of the Ra Mai Border Station often help Ho Ket’s family and gave them a clean water system. Major Cao Xuan Hoanh said, “The Ra Mai Border Station and the local Youth Union have always stood side by side, providing help and encouraging Ho Ket to be more confident in life. Despite his disability, Ket does his best to earn an income and preserve the traditional craft of his home village.”
Ho Ket was one of the 50 young honorees of the 2022 Shining Vietnamese Will program. He also received a certificate of merit from Quang Binh province’s Association for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.