The disabled owner’s special restaurant

She is Ho Thi Phuong Thao, born in 1981, from Dai Loc, Quang Nam. When she was 6 years old, she had an accident that caused her foot to become infected. Thao’s childhood was a series of long days in the hospital for treatment because of recurrent injuries. Illness, more hospital stay than at home made her not have the opportunity to go to school. Thanks to her parents as teachers, she was taught how to read, write, and calculate. Books were her whole world at that time.

Ms. Ho Thi Phuong Thao, owner of Happy Heart restaurant

In 2001, because the infection was too severe, the doctor decided to amputate part of her legs, since then her life has been attached to crutches.

The turning point of her life when she decided to go to Da Nang to find a job. Thao recalls: “When I returned home after the surgery to remove part of my leg, I was very sad. Accidentally heard people say that from now on, Thao will be a burden for her parents for the rest of her life, I love my parents even more, I don’t want what they say to be true, so I took that as a motivation.

When there was an organization that supported free accommodation for students and students with difficult circumstances, I signed up right away. Although I don’t know what Da Nang will do, I still want to go to find a job and earn money to take care of myself.”

Leaving Da Nang, she started an independent life, doing everything. She applied to work at a bakery, cafe of foreign aunts and uncles, this is also where many deaf and hard of hearing people work.

Mr. Phan Tai Toan (born in 1979), was born deaf and mute. He has worked with Thao for many years. Mr. Toan can be both a waiter, a cashier, and a chef.

Initially, she was assigned to deliver menus to customers and take orders. After that, she was assigned to take care of customers, train staff, connect with family members of deaf-mute employees… During her time working here, Thao taught herself English and sign language. sign of the deaf-mute.

In 2015, the restaurant owner and his wife decided to return to the country and transfer it to a new owner. However, the new owner wants to change the model that puts disabled employees like her at risk of losing their jobs.

Not wanting everyone to be unemployed, she went to a Canadian friend and he agreed to open a restaurant with the above model to create jobs for people with disabilities, deaf and dumb. Happy Heart was officially born from there and Thao was trusted by him to manage the restaurant.

The restaurant is visited by many foreign customers to use the service

After more than 2 years of running quite smoothly, her partner also wants to sell Happy Heart to return home. Once again, she does not want to abandon her employees and her enthusiasm for so many years, so Ms. Set of accumulated money, borrow from friends to buy back a restaurant and become the owner of Happy Heart.

At the end of 2019, she moved the restaurant to Tay An Thuong neighborhood (Ngu Hanh Son district) for business.

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Thao’s restaurant had 15 employees, most of them deaf and dumb. A special thing is that the deaf and dumb people are trained by her and assigned the main jobs, including 4 cooks, 2 bakers, and 2 coffee makers.

“I give priority to training deaf and dumb people because I want them to have a job. Even if you don’t work here, you can still work elsewhere or open your own small pastry shop or cafe,” Ms. Thao said.

According to Ms. Thao, the training and guidance of deaf and hard of hearing students face many difficulties because they have little conditions to study properly and the reception of information is limited. In order for you to adhere to the principles, rules and professional working style, it takes a lot of time.

Restaurant staff are all disabled

“In return, you guys are very hardworking, always giving all your love when making dishes for guests. After the guests eat, you always ask me to ask how the guests feel, are they satisfied,” said Thao with a smile.

Then there is another difficulty when there are some customers who come to the shop for the first time, not knowing that the staff is deaf, calling but the staff can’t hear, so they complain with the service attitude. At such times, Ms. Thao is always there to support and explain to customers.

“Many people also ask me why I don’t announce that the restaurant has deaf and mute people working to let customers know and support it, but I don’t do it because I want deaf and hard of hearing people to realize your own value, for you to strive to stand on your own two feet.

Moreover, when guests come in, I don’t want customers to feel like they’re supporting charity, regardless of whether the food is good or bad. I want them to come and have an authentic experience, eat delicious food, service and serve like other places,” Thao said.

When the Covid-19 epidemic broke out, Thao still tried to hold on and maintain it. She accepts the loss so that the deaf-mute staff can have a job.

After 2 years of being affected by the epidemic, Ms. Thao still accepts losses and maintains the restaurant so that people with disabilities can have jobs.

“No matter how many restaurants are closed around me, I still have faith that I will make it through. I kept thinking that trying to overcome a difficult period would make my restaurant stronger.

The Covid-19 epidemic caused foreigners to return home, the restaurant lost a large number of customers, but the number of new customers also began to appear more. Many guests from a few tens of kilometers away, even at the resort in Quang Nam, also contact to order food. Friends and customers are always interested and supportive, so I have the motivation to continue,” Thao confided.

Talking about the upcoming plan, Ms. Thao said that she will expand the bakery to train and help more people with disabilities. She hopes that Happy Heart will become a home for people with disabilities, helping them learn vocational skills, communication skills and languages ​​to be able to integrate into society.

“My success is not in the restaurant having a lot of money, but in helping the employees to become more skilled, strong, and confident when going out and integrating into the community. The children work and see their worth”, said Ms. Thao.

Dieu Thuy