Empowering poor children, increasing chances of getting to school

Under the coordination program, Khanh Hoa Provincial Labor Confederation and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs have mobilized hundreds of millions of dongs per year to contribute to the provincial Children’s Fund, empowering thousands of poor children to overcome challenges and pursue education.

Assistance for students

Every day, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh born in 2012 walks for 4km to school. Her dream of a bike to school seems to be impossible to reach as her family is too poor and still struggling to make ends meet. Khanh Hoa Department of Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs has offered the child a scholarship worth VND1.2 million to buy a bike. “I’m so delighted to be able to ride a bike to school in the new school year,” she said.

Khanh Hoa Provincial Labor Confederation and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs sign a coordination program.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh is one of thousands of children of Trade union members and workers in need receiving aid from the Provincial Children’s Fund. Under the coordination program, from 2019 to June 2023, the Provincial Labor Confederation and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs have mobilized Trade Union members and workers to donate at least 20,000 VND/person/year to the Provincial Children's Fund. Nearly VND1.4 billion aid in total has benefitted 5,253 children in need for medical care and financial aid.

In addition, the agencies have also coordinated to organize entertaining activities with gifts and scholarships given to children on the International Children's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar New Year, etc. The support of the Trade Union at all levels has helped expand assistance to the needy children. The most outstanding included the Trade Unions of Education, Public Servants, Health care, Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company and so on.

More donations to Children’s Fund needed

According to Nguyen Thanh Son, Vice-Chairman of Khanh Hoa Department of Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs, there are still many more children in Khanh Hoa Province in need of assistance while the fund is still limited. In order to raise support for children in need, the Provincial Labor Confederation and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs signed a joint program to mobilize donation to the Children’s Fund in the period of 2023 - 2028. Accordingly, in the coming time, the two agencies will strengthen propaganda for the effectiveness and meaning of the Provincial Children’s Fund; social responsibility for child protection, care and education. Besides, the 2 agencies will continue calling for voluntary donation in support of children in need; expand mobilization of sponsorship, charity social activities, programs and projects for children.

According to Tran Thi Huong, Vice-Chairperson of Khanh Hoa Labor Confederation, there are more than 1,500 grassroots Trade Unions with nearly 90,000 members in the province. Therefore, the agency will strengthen propaganda for donation at least VND20,000/person/year to the Provincial Children's Fund with the target that 85% of members and employees donating to the fund.

V.G

Translated by N.T