Published July 12, 2026
Ten women with disabilities in Hội An turn scrap fabric and discarded plastic banners into handicrafts — finding income, friendship and the belief that they are far from useless.
As a person with a mobility disability, the young woman named Thương faced many obstacles in life. She used to work in the cold storage of a hotel. Every day, Thương's mother would take her to work over a very long distance, from Hội An to her workplace in Đà Nẵng. But because Thương's health was not stable, continuing to maintain a job in an ordinary environment was very difficult. Facing isolation from her colleagues because of her impairments, Thương often felt hurt. With a difficult family situation, Thương always longed to find suitable work to help support her family.
With the operation of three parties: the group of women with disabilities, the S.E.A Club, and the Cẩm Nam Ward Women's Union, from February 2023 to August 2023, the Happy Shop sold more than 47 orders to individuals and organizations, with a total of 1,734 products manufactured, bringing an estimated profit of 20,000,000 VND. That is a fairly large number for such a young model with young staff like the Shop. This is also a promising milestone for the model's ability to grow in the future.
When the value of the recycling business model was announced, many residents were surprised that with only 10 modest workers, more than 600kg of scrap fabric and 200kg of plastic banners and nylon bags had been recycled into useful products instead of being thrown away at the dump. It was these sisters who contributed to significantly reducing plastic pollution in the locality.
Bonded with the Happy Shop, the 10 sisters, including Thương, learned how to make recycled products and to sell them to tourists to create a stable monthly income. Every beginning has its difficulties; Thương and the sisters faced much confusion in the production process and the techniques for creating the products. Thanks to classes on recycled handicraft skills as well as support with machinery and equipment from USAID, the Happy Shop gradually stabilized in skills and quality in the sisters' work.
Sharing with the LSPP project team, everyone talked more about their perspective on recycling and, above all, the Happy Shop successfully inspired the local community through the very work of the disadvantaged group who are the core staff at the Shop. From there, it also erased the long-standing gap of discrimination, so that the sisters could be welcomed and cared for in accordance with the good values within them.
Bidding farewell to the project team, Thương excitedly confided to us about her joy now that her life has changed a lot — she has a job, and her income has improved. Thương has more friends to share with and is happy to know that she too is contributing to the local environment. Thương's sharing is also a motivation for us on the journey of supporting the reduction of plastic waste; every choice, no matter how difficult, we still firmly believe that the good seeds we have sown will one day certainly bloom brilliantly. Do you agree with us?
The Happy Shop model was established on 31 August 2022 and, operated by three parties — the group of women with disabilities, the S.E.A Club, and the Cẩm Nam Ward Women's Union — has recycled more than 600kg of scrap fabric and 200kg of plastic banners, sold more than 47 orders, produced 1,734 products, and brought a profit of 20,000,000 VND.
The limitations of my body made me feel powerless; I really wanted to do something to earn extra income and to let everyone know I am not useless. But I didn't know what to do
— Thương shares
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