Nguyen Tran Thuy Tien

Nguyen Tran Thuy Tien, a deaf woman from Vietnam, is the Founder and Director of PARD Vietnam, a non-profit dedicated to empowering over 1,500 deaf individuals with essential skills for confidence and independence.

With the Giving Joy grant, Tien launched the "DeafLife Series: Empowering Deaf Women Entrepreneurs," a mini-documentary series showcasing the daily lives and careers of three deaf women entrepreneurs (nail technician, crochet shop owner and tailor). These videos challenge societal stereotypes, highlight the resilience and achievements of deaf women, and inspire others within the deaf community and beyond.

Grant activities started with the identification and gathering of stories about deaf women entrepreneurs across diverse industries; followed by script development, logistics and location set up; and lastly filming the three episodes showcasing each women’s work, challenges and triumphs.

This grant gave these and other women their first opportunity to share their stories publicly, a deeply meaningful and empowering experience. Though the episodes have yet to air, the project is already challenging stereotypes and laying the foundation for broader awareness and inclusion.

Beyond storytelling, this initiative strengthened Tien’s organization’s role in advocating for deaf entrepreneurship. It expanded their reach, fostered connections with businesses and advocacy groups, and provided content to engage and educate our audience. Tien stated that” “ For our organization, it marked a milestone in advancing deaf empowerment and collaboration with like-minded partners.”

For Tien, personally, the project was transformative. “It deepened my understanding of the deaf community, enhanced my leadership and storytelling skills, and reinforced our commitment to inclusion and accessibility.”

The DeafLife Series profoundly impacted the three featured women. One participant recognized her resilience and creativity. Another gained confidence and motivation to pursue her goals. The third felt her story would help break barriers for other deaf individuals.

With a potential reach of 15,000 people, this project will inspire:

✅ Deaf individuals to see successful role models.
✅ Families and friends to appreciate the achievements of their loved ones.
✅ Employers and colleagues to recognize the skills of deaf professionals.
✅ The broader community to break stereotypes and embrace inclusion.

This initiative is more than a series—it’s a movement toward greater awareness, opportunity, and empowerment.