Nguyen Thi Hong Vi, 50, lives with her elderly mother in Tam Quan ward. She has had a leg disability since childhood due to Agent Orange, making mobility difficult. After finishing 9th grade, she pursued sewing from the age of 20, primarily taking on individual processing stages, with her income tied to the volume of work assigned.

Nguyen Thi Hong Vy received 20 million dong to purchase machinery and materials. *Ngoc Oanh*

Unstable work and a lack of equipment made her livelihood challenging. Last year, through a support program for disabled people, Vi received 20 million dong to buy a cutting machine, a table, and fabric, enabling her to transition to sewing school uniforms.

Her work gradually became more stable, with an income of about 170,000-180,000 dong per day. Occasionally, she sews uniforms for temples; her younger sibling also works with her to assist. "The support helps me be independent in my work, earn an income to support myself and care for my elderly mother," Vi said.

Similarly, with livelihood development support, Nguyen Van Xuyen, 49, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Giau, 38, also in Tam Quan ward, were able to expand their electrical repair shop and business selling electrical and plumbing equipment.

Previously, Xuyen felt self-conscious due to his disability. With the opportunity to develop their business, he and his wife gradually achieved economic stability, earning about 7-10 million dong per month, enough to cover living expenses and their two children's education.

According to Xuyen, having work and income has made him more confident, allowing him to not only care for himself but also share responsibilities with his family. Giau believes that disabled people, if they still have the ability to work and suitable opportunities, can learn a trade, work, and generate income to support themselves.

Nguyen Van Xuyen and his wife. *Ngoc Oanh*

These two families are beneficiaries of the project "Improving the quality of life for disabled people in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange". The US government funds this project, and the National Action Center for Overcoming the Consequences of Chemical and Environmental Toxins (NACCET) under the Ministry of National Defense has implemented it in Gia Lai and Quang Ngai since 2023.

Over three years, the project has supported 741 individuals in improving their living conditions and amenities, and 147 people in developing livelihoods across the two localities. In addition to medical care, rehabilitation, and providing assistive devices, the program also offers career counseling tailored to each person's health and aspirations.

An end-term evaluation revealed that about 77% of disabled individuals achieved independent or partially independent living. More than 98% could decide their livelihood models, and over 90% demonstrated the ability to reinvest.

Lieutenant Colonel, Doctor Tran Duc Hung, Deputy General Director of NACCET and Head of the Project Management Board, stated that a significant change is the gradual shift of disabled people from being aid recipients to actively determining their own lives.

However, livelihood models still face challenges regarding market access, epidemics, price fluctuations, and participants' health. To sustain results after the project concludes, enhanced coordination is needed among government agencies, the health sector, social welfare units, and disabled people's organizations. Additionally, these models should be linked with poverty reduction programs, agricultural extension initiatives, and preferential loan schemes.

*Ngoc Oanh*