Program Overview
On May 27, Sao Mai for the Blind, in collaboration with Step Club, successfully organized the event "Connecting Opportunities – Creating Success” in Hanoi. Designed as a job fair, the program provided a space for visually impaired young people to explore employment opportunities, enhance their professional skills, and connect directly with employers in an open, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
The event was part of the "Empowerment through Employment" project, funded by The Nippon Foundation, which aims to strengthen workplace skills, improve access to employment, and expand career opportunities for visually impaired youth in Vietnam.
Participants
The program attracted more than 70 participants, including approximately 50% visually impaired young people and 30% representatives from businesses and organizations.
We were honored to welcome the participation and support of the following organizations and companies:
1. GoToJapan Japanese Language and Study Abroad Center
2. ActiveX Foreign Language and Experiential Education Center
3. Vietnam and Friends (VAF) English Center
4. Research Center for Inclusion Development (RCI)
5. Blue Dragon Children's Foundation
6. RMIT University Vietnam
7. Bell Home, a business under Bell Vietnam Company
8. Song An Thien Tram Co., Ltd.
9. Omamory Spa
10. Vietnam Blind Association
Main Activities
The program consisted of two key sessions designed to equip participants with knowledge and skills while creating practical employment networking opportunities.
Session 1: Labor Law Awareness and Workplace Inclusion Skills
The program opened with a presentation by Mr. Pham Xuan Truong, Director of the Training Center for Rehabilitation Staff Serving People with Visual Impairments under the Vietnam Blind Association. He introduced important provisions of Vietnam’s Labor Code relating to persons with disabilities, helping participants better understand their rights, responsibilities, and the legal protections available to them in the workplace.
Following this, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, representing Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, shared her experiences from the perspective of a visually impaired professional working in an inclusive environment. She provided practical guidance on understanding employment contracts, communicating with employers, and signing contracts confidently and independently. She also highlighted key soft skills that help visually impaired individuals adapt to and thrive in diverse workplace settings.
Session 2: Employer Networking and On-the-Spot Recruitment
This was the most anticipated part of the program, where participating companies introduced their organizations, recruitment needs, and the qualifications and skills they seek in candidates.
Through dedicated recruitment networking booths, visually impaired young people actively engaged with employers, submitted CVs, participated in brief interviews, and demonstrated their capabilities. Many productive discussions took place, laying the foundation for future employment and collaboration opportunities.
Results and Outcomes
The program achieved highly encouraging outcomes, demonstrating the practical effectiveness of combining skills development with direct employment connections.
80% of the visually impaired youth attending the workshop expressed a genuine interest in finding employment and showed a strong sense of initiative.
More than 50% of participants received direct interview opportunities from employers during the event.
Between 20% and 30% of participating visually impaired youth successfully secured internship or probationary work opportunities immediately after the program concluded.
Sao Mai would like to express our sincere gratitude to all partner organizations and participants for contributing to the success of a meaningful job fair that fostered connections and opened doors to new opportunities.
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