After breaking her leg when she was just eight years old, Giang (now 21) learned she would never walk properly again. She tells her story of how she learned to accept the fact, build a life and start a career.

In November 2010, Giang was accepted to British Council Vietnam as an intern, taking on the role of personal assistant to the country director. As a recent graduate she was thrilled by the news that she made it through the written test and interview round to win the internship ahead of two others shortlisted. However, her excitement was short lived as she realised she would be the youngest in the very new environment with zero experience in office work and a total lack of confidence in her English skills.

Immediately, a full induction three-week programme was arranged. At first she added a message to every email which said “Please let me know if you spot errors in my written English”. To help allay her fears free English classes were offered and she gladly accepted. She tells how Robin Rickard, country director of British Council Vietnam, was very patient with her super-slow English while other foreign colleagues learnt to speak slowly and carefully.

But Giang’s hard work and her colleagues’ patience paid off. Giang completed her six-month internship successfully. More importantly, to her surprise, she was chosen as the paid intern for the HR manager, meaning a longer stay with the British Council.

	Japanese colleagues borrow Giang as a Living Book.		Colleagues at British Council Vietnam (Hanoi Office) learn to use the wheel chair in an activity organised by Giang and IDEA.

‘As part of our global diversity policy, the British Council Vietnam approached IDEA (Inclusive Development Action), an organisation for disabled people, to see if they could help identify interns. They identified candidates and Giang was the successful one,’ says Robin Rickard.

He added: ‘She has learnt basic office skills that will prepare that will help prepare her for a future career. Her English continues to improve and she’s proficient both in the office and on the phone. Her progress has been a real reflection of her hard work and a vindication of our decision to employ her.

‘While Giang benefits from having the British Council on her CV, we benefit from her assistance and she has clearly demonstrated to colleagues that a physical disability should be no barrier to a career. ‘

Giang was born with a very rare disorder which causes a deficiency of calcium in bones despite a high level of calcium in blood. She grew up unaware of it until she broke her leg, running in the third grade.

Laughed and stared by others as she walked with difficulty across the primary school, she learned to keep her face down to avoid them. Given limited financial support, she learned that something important had changed. But, at first, she refused to accept the fact she was now a disabled person.

‘No, I wouldn’t accept it. But people kept giving me their support. And one day, I finally gave up fighting the idea. I started to learn how to be open with other people  

about the problems I faced and move on. Maybe I was quite lucky, because I know it took some other people much longer,’ says Giang.

Giang finished her degree in psychology last year with distinction result, ending up in the top five of her class.

Recently as part of the British Council’s international Diversity Week the concept of ‘Living Books’ was launched.  The idea was that people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds differing experiences could share their story with colleagues from across the world.  They became part of an international ‘library’ of experience.

Giang volunteered to take part and her tale and determination has inspired and opened minds of colleagues.

Her next challenge is Hanoi’s busy roads as she just learned how to ride a special three-wheeled vehicle.  She expects to take this challenge in her stride, just as she has all the others she has faced.  She seems very happy.

Hanoi, May 2011