Quilling is an art form that involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to greetings cards, artworks and decorative items. Although the process sounds simple, it requires a lot of patience, creativity and skilfulness from the practitioners.
Tran Ngoc Hoe, a man with mobility impairment in Truong Yen commune, Hoa Lu district, was the first one to popularise the art form in Ninh Binh. After attending a two-month training course on quilling in Hanoi three years ago, Hoe established Binh An group to provide vocational training and create jobs for people with disabilities in Ninh Binh.
At the beginning of this year, Binh An group introduced their first products to the public, which are an assortment of postcards, earrings and greeting cards featuring various topics of nature, Ninh Binh’s landscapes and people.
According to Hoe, it takes from two to three days to complete a simple quilling artwork while a larger and more detailed ones requires more than one week. As Hoe’s paintings use made-in-Japan papers, they are durable enough to preserve and display for a long time.
Hoe said that it is not too difficult to make quilling artworks, but great patience is needed as strips of paper must be rolled and shaped evenly and meticulously to avoid being wrinkled.
The more he got involved in the job, the more interest he has found in it. With their creativity, Binh An group’s members bring soul to thin straps of paper, turning them into lively pictures and products.
However, despite of their affordable price, the groups’ products still face difficulties in entering the market. The group members have searched for references from the internet in an effort to diversify their products and meet the increasing demand of customers.
Ha Thi Tuy and Vu Thi Huong, two members of Binh An group, suffer from Thalassemias and have to receive monthly treatment at the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion. Joining Binh An brings them a monthly income of around VND3 million each, which helps to cover their cost of living and hospital fees.
Aside from Tuy and Huong, Hoe and his Binh An group are also providing support and vocational training to other people with disabilities.
As it is difficult for people with disabilities to afford independent living and they have to depend on their families, it is a meaningful and valuable act of Hoe and his Binh An group to create jobs for these underprivileged people, which has not only encouraged them to rise above difficulties but has also fuelled their hope in life.
