Working together to care for and protect children.

Việt Nam•01/06/2024

(QBĐT) - Along with fully implementing regulations and policies, in recent years, all levels, sectors, and localities throughout the province have actively mobilized social resources to jointly care for and support children in difficult circumstances; strengthening solutions to prevent and combat violence, abuse, and injuries to children. Through this, they have created all favorable conditions and environments for children to study, play, and ensure their basic rights for comprehensive development.

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For nearly a month now, Tran Thi Thuy Duong, a 7th-grade student at Tan Ninh Secondary School ( Quang Ninh province), has no longer had to ride her old, frequently malfunctioning bicycle to school, because she now has her own new bicycle. This is a gift from the District Red Cross Society to Duong during the 2024 Humanitarian Month.

“Thuy Duong's situation is very pitiful. She is an orphan, and her mother works as a cleaner at the hospital with a low income, so her family's life is very difficult and impoverished. Duong and her older brother (who is in high school) take turns going to school on an old bicycle given to them by a relative a long time ago. On days when their school schedules clash, Thuy Duong has to hitch a ride with a friend. Understanding her family's circumstances, the District Red Cross Society decided to donate a new bicycle to Thuy Duong. Hopefully, with this bicycle, she will have more motivation to go to school, strive to study well, and become a useful person for her family and society,” shared Pham Thi Hong Minh, President of the Quang Ninh District Red Cross Society.

Along with Tran Thi Thuy Duong, many poor children, children from disadvantaged backgrounds, children with disabilities, orphans, etc., in the province have received attention and support from all levels, sectors, localities, and philanthropists inside and outside the province. While this attention cannot fully compensate for the hardships and disadvantages these children face, it serves as motivation for them to overcome their circumstances and strive for a better life.

Over the past period, many organizations and units have made every effort to mobilize as many resources as possible to help many disadvantaged students continue their education; donated many meaningful gifts, provided free medical examinations for thousands of children, and organized activities and built many practical models aimed at children...

The care and protection of children has always been a priority for all levels, sectors, and units in the province.

In 2023 alone, the Zhishan Foundation Taiwan spent over 2 billion VND to award scholarships to 761 particularly disadvantaged children in the province, with nearly 1.7 billion VND allocated to these scholarships; it also handed over and installed library equipment under the "Making Friends with Books" project at Khuong Ha Kindergarten and Ly Trach Primary School (Bo Trach district), supplemented books and stories, provided funding for storytelling sessions, and distributed student handbooks to the schools, totaling 357 million VND.

In addition, with the support of the Department of Health , 273 adolescents in Kim Thuy, Ngan Thuy, and Lam Thuy communes (Le Thuy district) received free screening tests; 100% of children under 6 years old received free medical examinations, treatment, and health insurance cards; and nearly 100% of children under 1 year old participated in the expanded immunization program. The Provincial Youth Union distributed nearly 14,030 gifts to poor children worth over 4.5 billion VND. The Provincial Women's Union provided assistance to 980 children with particularly difficult circumstances with a total amount of 14.4 billion VND; the Women's Development Support Fund in the province directly sponsored 300 children with a total amount of nearly 2.6 billion VND…

It is evident that, thanks to the joint efforts of all levels of government, sectors, communities, and society, many poor but studious students have received support and opportunities to continue their education, fulfilling their dreams of pursuing higher education that were at risk of being interrupted; thousands of children in remote areas have received meaningful and practical gifts; and countless others have been cared for and looked after, giving them more confidence on their challenging life journey.

Efforts to protect children

“Children are the future of the country. Caring for, nurturing, educating, and protecting children plays a crucial role in ensuring their comprehensive physical and mental development. Recognizing this as an important task and responsibility of the entire political system, families, schools, and society, in recent years, all levels, sectors, and localities in the province have actively and effectively implemented the work of protecting, caring for, and educating children. In particular, child protection work has been carried out synchronously at all three levels: prevention, support, and intervention,” shared Ho Tan Canh, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

At the prevention level, the dissemination and education of laws to officials working with children at all levels has been strengthened. The Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has actively cooperated with organizations such as Plan, Zhishan Foundation Taiwan, and PeaceTrees Vietnam to organize training to enhance the knowledge of officials working with children at the district and commune levels, as well as teachers and parents, on protecting children and promoting healthy and safe interactions in cyberspace; and supporting landmine victims and their children.

The Department of Health effectively maintains the model of pre-marital counseling and health check-ups in communes, wards, towns, and schools; organizes training, communication, and provides reproductive knowledge to students and teachers of junior and senior high schools in the province... The Department of Culture and Sports intensifies inspections and reviews of equipment serving children at playgrounds and entertainment venues to ensure children's safety, especially during the summer holidays…

At the support level, many poor households and children with special circumstances have accessed policies, thereby improving their living conditions. Communes, wards, towns, and social assistance facilities provide support and intervention in cases of child abuse and violence. To date, 100% of educational institutions in the province have psychological counseling rooms for students.

The Provincial State Legal Aid Center has completed 19 cases of legal aid in litigation to defend and protect 19 minors. The Provincial Police continue to effectively maintain the model "Joining hands to prevent and assist juvenile offenders based on the community" in Nhan Trach commune (Bo Trach district) and An Thuy commune (Le Thuy district). To date, the model is managing and rehabilitating 13 minors, gradually helping them recognize their wrongdoings and study diligently…

According to data compiled by the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the province currently has 257,253 children under 16 years old, including 3,577 children in special circumstances, 10,702 children from ethnic minorities, 2,887 orphans, 57 abandoned children, 74 homeless children, 3,855 children with disabilities, and 19,001 children from poor and near-poor households...

At the intervention level, the Department of Health directs commune, ward, and town health stations to monitor and manage pregnant mothers and children aged 0-6 years to detect and intervene early in various forms of disabilities; upon receiving information about child abuse, they immediately implement medical and psychological care for the children. The Provincial Social Work Center has provided timely support, intervention, counseling, and consultation for cases of child sexual abuse, violence, exploitation, abandonment, and at risk of abandonment, helping them overcome difficult times, reduce feelings of inferiority and self-consciousness, become more confident in themselves, and integrate into the community sooner...

With the active and strong involvement of all levels, sectors, localities, and units, the work of caring for, protecting, and educating children has achieved remarkable results in recent times, contributing to helping children live in a safe and healthy environment and develop comprehensively both physically and mentally. However, in many places and under many circumstances, a significant number of children still live in poverty and suffer disadvantages and injustices. Therefore, more joint efforts and involvement from the community and society are needed to ensure that the work of caring for, protecting, and educating children is maintained regularly, continuously, and creates a strong ripple effect.

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