Dr. Vo Thi Hoang Yen, Vietnam
A musician, a professor, and a survivor of polio — Dr. Yen applies her passion for academia to empower Vietnam’s next generation of leaders.
Women in Development: This series focuses on the inspirational Tetra Tech women that take strides to make the world a more inclusive place.
The following #TtInspires story is related to projects that are implemented by our Australia-based international development organization Coffey, A Tetra Tech Company and funded by The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Meet our hero; a musician, a professor and a survivor of polio — Dr. Hoang Yen. Dr. Yen always had a keen interest in pursuing a career in academia, and the DFAT Aus4Skills program gave her an opportunity to do just that. After receiving her Master’s in Human Development at the University of Kansas, Hoang Yen applied and successfully was accepted in obtaining an Australia Awards Scholarship through the Australian Government’s Aus4Skills program.
Aus4Skills is a program put in place by DFAT with the belief that,
Vietnam can access and use high-level professional and technical knowledge skills and competencies to contribute to the country’s sustainable economic and social development, and enduring links with Australia.
The Australia Awards are Australian Government scholarships offered to postgraduate applicants around the world who are passionate about supporting the growth of their country. Since 1974, more than 4,000 Australia Awards Scholarships have been awarded to Vietnamese applicants. This has given Vietnam’s next generation of leaders the education opportunities that will enable them to be at the forefront of development in Vietnam. The Australia Awards Vietnam strongly encourages women, people with disabilities and people from marginalized groups to apply.
After completing her PhD program at Melbourne’s La Trobe University, Dr. Yen returned back to Vietnam to apply her newly acquired skills and knowledge to the Disability Resources and Development (DRD) Center, an organization that empowers those with disabilities to pursue higher education and contribute to their community’s development. Dr. Yen founded this organization in 2005, and is currently acting as the Director.
Dr. Yen is an inspiration to many youth in Vietnam, always realizing the potential and contributions youth have to their communities and societies. As one disabled student told Dr. Yen, who was a recipiant of a DRD scholarship:
I saw you on television and told my mother that I wanted to go to university, and to work like you.
However, it is not easy for Dr. Yen always to be the example, since people also forget about her family background and her suffering. Though she is known as inspiration and hero to many young Vietnamese, always presenting herself with a huge smile, warm voice and positive attitude. As Dr. Yen says:
“It is because I can do what I want, was given trust and support from others, see positive changes in young people when they participate in DRD’s activities, and especially I have learnt the acceptance and love of others.”
According to Dr. Yen, it is at times, very difficult to help youth target their dreams since they are beset by material concerns. The only thing she can do is inspire them to turn their dreams into a reality, and to not give up. With those who would like to devote themselves to the community, she encourages they share their aspirations with other people, and together, they can work and pursue their dreams.
The AUS4Skills program is pleased to have empowered her dream to develop and expand her social work center, DRD, and enable her to provide more information, awards, counseling services, and mental health treatment to the disabled and other vulnerable groups.
Coffey, A Tetra Tech Company is honored to continue to manage DFAT’s Aus4Skills program and support future leaders of development in Vietnam, primarily women and those with disabilities.
