Child Care and Protection - Highlights

By the end of 2024, Long An province will have nearly 370,000 children under 16 years old; of which, more than 15,000 are children in special circumstances or at risk of falling into special circumstances. In order for children in the whole province to have a happy life, each year, the provincial budget allocates 5 billion VND, 6 billion VND in 2024 alone, to organize activities to support children, especially children at risk of falling into special circumstances, children living in poor households, children in remote areas. In addition, the province also mobilizes about 20 billion VND each year from organizations and individuals to take care of children. Along with that, the active participation of departments, branches and sectors with many practical and meaningful activities has contributed to ensuring children's rights, creating a safe and healthy environment to help children develop comprehensively.

Children present their opinions at a meeting with leaders of Thanh Hoa District People's Committee.

Where children "get to speak"

Implementing the Plan of the Central Youth Union Secretariat on creating opportunities for children to express their thoughts and aspirations, in 2025, the Youth Union and Young Pioneers at all levels in the province will promote the development of models and activities to promote children's participation in issues directly related to children and of interest to children. The highlight of this work is the Program of meetings, contacts and dialogues between provincial and district leaders and children.

In Thanh Hoa district, this year, the District Youth Union and the District Youth Union Council chose the theme "Protecting children in cyberspace" for this program. Deputy Secretary of the District Youth Union, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa District Youth Union Council - Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy said: "Children today easily have smartphones , laptops,... They are also very proficient with social networks . This makes it easy for children to absorb false information, "hot trends" that are not suitable for their age, and even be abused and bullied in cyberspace. Therefore, the District Youth Union and the District Youth Union Council chose this theme to both guide children and help them protect themselves in the virtual world ."

Participating in this program, 60 children representing more than 7,400 children in the district boldly raised many problems that they or their friends have encountered such as receiving messages and calls from strangers; "dirty" websites appearing while studying online; having their images edited, posting bad things online; being lured into groups on social networks;...

In addition, many children also shared their desire to be guided on how to recognize websites or groups operating with bad purposes, how to avoid being "beaten up" on social networks, etc. Being listened to and shared by the leaders of the District People's Committee and related agencies, and having their questions answered quickly and easily, the children felt comfortable and excited.

Tran Vu Khang - a student of class 9/2, Thanh Phuoc Secondary School (Thanh Phuoc Commune, Thanh Hoa District, Long An Province), shared: “The program of meeting and dialogue with the leaders has brought me a very good experience. Through the program, I have a better understanding of the risks and pitfalls on the Internet to avoid. I have improved my skills in handling bad situations encountered on social networks. I like this dialogue program and wish it would take place more often.”

Life skills training for students

A similar program also took place in Can Giuoc district with the theme "Children today, world tomorrow" organized by the District Youth Union and the District Youth Union Council. The program became a forum for young delegates to express their thoughts, aspirations, and make proposals and wishes to representatives of the Party Committee and the District People's Council. Issues that the children were concerned about: Traffic safety at schools, law violations among minors, bullying on social networks, etc.

In addition to the program of meeting and dialogue with leaders of Party committees and People's Committees, many schools have also established clubs for students to express their voices: the Children's Counseling and Assistance Club of Phuoc Ly Primary School (Phuoc Ly commune, Can Giuoc district); the "What I want to say" mailbox model has been deployed in all 33 teams in Ben Luc district.

Child protection must change from awareness

Safety for women and children is a consistent theme of the Women's Union at all levels in the province. Propaganda and changing parents' awareness are considered important methods to best care for and protect children.

In recent years, the Provincial Women's Union has coordinated with relevant sectors to organize many propaganda sessions on preventing and combating domestic violence, reproductive health care for women and adolescents, equipping them with skills on preventing and combating child abuse, school violence, etc. Many models and clubs have been established and constantly improving the quality of their activities, notably: "Group of parents with children aged 0-8", "Parents in child care and development", "School psychological counseling group", "Prevention and combating child abuse, building happy families", etc.

These models and clubs have helped promote the role of women - mothers in supporting children to solve psychological and learning problems, contributing to improving the quality of life of children in the locality. A model that was initiated in Tan Tru district, then expanded in Duc Hue district, is the Adolescent Care Club, which many women participate in. The club is where mothers with children in puberty gather together, share experiences of "growing up with their children", befriending their children instead of imposing "children must do...", "children should do...".

Nowadays, loving children is a process, not a result like many years ago. Therefore, changing the mindset and awareness of grandparents and parents so that adults can love and be close to their children and grandchildren in a way that is appropriate to the psychology of children is extremely necessary.

“The most difficult thing in the 4.0 era is to bring grandparents, parents and children closer together. Only by understanding what children and grandchildren need and want can weeducate , care for and protect them well” - Vice President of the Provincial Women's Union - Nguyen Thuy Tham shared.

At the same time, in 2024, the Women's Union at all levels will also provide legal support and legal advice to 1,314 women, including the Law on Children, the Law on Marriage and Family, etc. The Union will coordinate to advise, help, and prevent 7 cases of women and children at risk of violence.

In addition, the Association at all levels has sponsored 475 children, providing both material and spiritual support to fill the void of parental love so that less fortunate children can still feel loved and protected while growing up./.

Yen Mai

Source: https://baolongan.vn/cham-lo-bao-ve-tre-em-nhung-hoat-dong-noi-bat-a196192.html