Supporting disadvantaged children

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Due to various reasons, many children in the province still face poverty, illness, disability, or the loss of their parents. In these challenging times, the Social Work Center - Thanh Hoa Children's Protection Fund (hereinafter referred to as the Center) always stands by them, providing timely and practical support to help these children have more opportunities for education and growth.

Representatives from sponsoring organizations presented scholarships to underprivileged children in Bien Thuong commune.

At the Bien Thuong Commune People's Committee hall, the atmosphere became more vibrant than ever as nearly 40 children successively stepped forward to receive scholarships from the center and partner organizations. On their faces, innocent smiles mixed with shyness, overflowing with joy. For them, the scholarship was not just a material gift, but also opened up opportunities to continue their education, providing them with books, new clothes, or warm shoes for the upcoming school year.

Nguyen Van Khanh, a fifth-grade student who is an orphan, shyly shared: "I'm so happy. With this money, I'll buy books and notebooks, and I'll try my best to study hard." Sharing Khanh's joy, Lo Van Hung, a sixth-grade student at Thuong Xuan Secondary School, beamed as he hugged his brand-new backpack, next to his bicycle. Hung hesitantly confided: "I'm so happy. From now on, I have a bike to go to school, and I don't have to walk anymore. I'll study harder so I don't let everyone down." For these children, these seemingly simple gifts are a great source of happiness, making the journey to school less arduous and adding more hope to their educational journey. Behind each bicycle and each backpack is the love of the community, providing motivation for poor children to overcome hardship.

Since the beginning of the year, the center has implemented a series of practical support activities, making a profound impact on the care, protection, and support of children with special circumstances in the province. With a total budget of nearly 2.4 billion VND, of which more than 1.3 billion VND came from the center's own funds and sponsors, the center has promptly provided support, encouragement, and material assistance to more than 4,000 children. This number represents not only concrete support but also clear evidence of the spread of love and community responsibility.

A highlight of the activities was the "Happy Noodle Package" program, which donated 57,915 packages of instant noodles to 1,287 boarding students in the mountainous districts of Muong Lat, Quan Son, and Lang Chanh (formerly), worth 246 million VND. In addition, hundreds of vitamin D3K2 supplements were sent to impoverished children, and over 1,000 boxes of nutritional milk were distributed to 534 children in various localities, hospitals, and social assistance facilities, totaling 734 million VND. Besides nutrition, the center also collaborated with the Surgery for a Smile Vietnam (OSV) organization to screen and bring dozens of children with craniofacial deformities to E Hospital in Hanoi for free surgery, giving them a chance to integrate and gain confidence.

Alongside healthcare, the center also prioritizes education. It has awarded 192 scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, totaling nearly 200 million VND; donated 470 backpacks and 16 bicycles to underprivileged but studious children, providing them with better access to school. Notably, the center has also provided long-term sponsorship for two children suffering from serious illnesses, further motivating them to persevere in their studies. During holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and Children's Action Month, over 1,100 children in various localities, social welfare facilities, and Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital received timely visits, gifts, and encouragement. Furthermore, the center has provided emergency support to children who have suffered accidents, injuries, or drowning, sharing the difficulties with their families and offering them emotional support.

In addition to direct support, the center also focuses on investing in long-term projects. During the Month of Action for Children, the center planned to implement 3 clean water projects in mountainous areas and 2 solar-powered lighting projects in remote villages, with a total cost of over 300 million VND. These are not only material gifts but also solutions to improve the quality of life and education for children in disadvantaged areas. This achievement is thanks to the collective efforts of the community – by the end of June 2025, the center had raised over 1.289 billion VND from organizations, businesses, benevolent individuals, and the Vietnam Children's Protection Fund.

Mr. Lai The Quang, Deputy Director of the Center, shared: “On each gift-giving trip, we see the joy in the children's eyes. It's not just about material things, but also about spiritual encouragement, helping them believe that they are not left behind. That's also the reason why we strive even harder to mobilize resources and implement support programs.” In the future, the center will continue to implement many practical activities such as awarding scholarships and bicycles on the occasion of the school opening, building more clean water facilities and solar-powered lights in mountainous areas, as well as organizing visits and gift-giving during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year) and supporting surgeries for children with congenital deformities. “The support figures are only the tip of the iceberg; the greater value is the belief and determination that the center and sponsors bring, so that every child has the opportunity to be loved, learn, and grow up in the compassionate embrace of the community,” Mr. Quang added.

Text and photos: Tran Hang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/dong-hanh-cung-tre-yeu-the-260048.htm