Ten workers at a special shop in Da Nang suffer from disabilities such as cerebral palsy, mental disabilities and muteness, that are a result of Agent Orange. They are aged 15-25 and their work is proudly displayed; items such as colourful necklaces, bracelets, key chains, and cute phone charms adorn the shop.

Busy making bracelets, necklaces, key chains and phone charms. (Photo: Khanh Hong)

The shop is located in the Centre for Sponsoring Agent Orange Victims and Disadvantaged Children (Da Nang City Agent Orange Victims Association) on Nguyen Nhu Hanh Road, in Da Nang City. Products sold in the shop are hand-made by Agent Orange victims. Phan Thi Thanh, a staff member at the centre, is the one who taught these disadvantaged young adults their special skills.

Whenever the shop is not being visited by customers, everyone concentrates on making the products, when customers arrive, some will do the selling. However, there is always a staff member from the centre who is in charge of all the management, sales, and money collection aspects as well as to assist the workers.

Anyone who has set their foot into the shop gets a very warm and friendly feeling about the place. Most customers are students, groups and organisers who come to visit and support the Agent Orange victims and those who are disadvantaged. Customers are often treated like close friends by these workers in return to the kindness they are shown.

At the centre, besides those who work for the gift shop, there are others that sew and make other hand-made crafts. The centre is a place where many disadvantaged people come together to work, socialise and find happiness everyday. They only go home to be with their family at night.

According to Thanh, the whole idea of opening a souvenir shop is to create jobs for these young adults. The income is very low but it contributes towards a fund that helps to buy biscuits and lollies for them. Each bracelet costs about VND 7,000 - 8,000 (35 - 40 cents USD), each nekclace from VND 20,000 - 25,000 (1 - 1.3 USD), and each phone charm and key chain from VND 5,000 - 10,000 (20 - 50 cents USD).

The centre also helps them to find a job that they like. "It's definitely more difficult to teach kids with disabilities than normal kids. Sometimes it can take them the whole day to finish one product, and they can totally forget how to do it the next day," shared Thanh. Although they have put in a lot of effort, they are often very enthusiastic about working. Trang, one of the the kids, has learnt for 3 months and now she can make all the products in the shop. "Difficult to make bracelets, but I'm very happy." Trang shared with great difficulty each word.