Touching Lives: Help Us Keep Blind Massage Training Alive

Hello, I'm Jessica, from the Association of Vietnamese Students and Professionals in the United States (AVSPUS). For nearly a decade, I've also been involved with BlindLink, supporting blind people in Vietnam through vocational training to become professional massage therapists.

Since 1997, the state-funded National Training and Rehab Center for Vietnamese Blind has been dedicated to providing free massage training to visually impaired individuals, equipping them with the skills to gain employment and ultimately, the confidence to lead independent, fulfilling lives. However, the Center is now facing an unprecedented crisis – as of 2024, their funding was completely cut off, leaving them unable to continue the training programs that have transformed the lives of so many.

We urgently need your help to fund a massage training course this year for 32 blind students. We need to raise 4000 USD to make this happen. As the course is set to begin in July 2024, we must secure the necessary funds as soon as possible. All funds raised here will be transferred directly to the Center, and any received in excess of our goal will be put towards future courses.

This upcoming 20-day course, unlike any other, is a collaboration between AVSPUS, BlindLink, and the Center. We aim to teach new and young blind therapists foot massage techniques and Vietnamese Non-oil techniques. AVSPUS and BlindLink not only offers their expertise free of charge but also ensures the highest standards of training quality through supervision.

Here is how your donation will be used:

Your donation does more than fund a course; it changes lives.

Meet Ho Sy Cuong, a 43-year-old therapist from Quang Ninh Province.

Meet Vu Bang, a 24-year-old graduate of our training course that was crowdfunded on GoFundMe during COVID-19. His father’s gambling addiction led to the loss of their home, and given his visual impairement, Bang had no prospects for employment. At one point, he found himself sleeping in a tent near the market, struggling with thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, the course kickstarted his journey as a massage therapist – today, Bang is thriving in his role as massage therapist and a lead instructor at Là Nhà Spa in Ninh Binh province, a famous tourist destination.

Here's a testimony from Bang's client:

"Hello , My name is Theo Massanes Yang , I come from France Lyon.

I would like to learn massage with the blind students here between one and 2 months as I’m really interested by massage courses since long time.

I met one of your school student Vu Bang in Ninh Binh , because I came to his spa there , so I asked him where did he learned the massage cause I really appreciate it.

I could be volunteer in your school in some needed area like languages (I can speak French , English , and Chinese but not fluently Chinese..) or others area if needed. Also i already help and took care of a blind person in my dormitory in France 2 years ago so I’m really used to be with think kind of handicap.

I look forward to have a positive reply from you."

Your support ensures that more individuals like Bang and Cuong can rewrite their stories and build brighter futures.