HCM City (VNA) – A project is underway in Ho ChiMinh City to promote child-friendly education environment and protection forvulnerable children, aiming to help build a sustainable society.
The municipal Department of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs held a workshop on April 5 to share experience in theimplementation of this project, which is carried out by Save the ChildrenVietnam and funded by the IKEA Foundation of the Netherlands.
The second phase of this project is implementedfrom September 2016 to August 2019 at 50 schools in the districts of Go Vap, CuChi, Binh Tan and Thu Duc, aiming to promote disadvantaged and immigrantchildren’s access to basic services like education and health care and theirright to be protected in a safe and friendly environment.
The project has benefited about 55,000 children aged between6 and 16 and 48,000 adults who are school managers, teachers, parents, childprotection workers, and volunteers.
Under the project, a survey has been conductedwith the involvement of 628 students, 26.4 percent of whom are from immigrantfamilies.
Results show that 29.9 percent of therespondents said they would strive to escape from family or community violenceif they faced such acts, while 28.4 percent opted to report to trustworthyadults. About 22.9 percent of the interviewees chose not to do anything, and31.3 percent said they knew the places or persons from whom they could seekassistance when suffering from abuse or violence.
A representative of Save the Children Vietnamsaid the project’s findings show that it is necessary to step up educatingchildren on their rights to raise their voice and be protected. Informationabout trustworthy places where children can seek help in trouble also needs tobe provided for them.
The organisation also called on activities ofstudent consultation rooms to be diversified to attract more students.
Vice Chairman of the Go Vap district People’sCommittee Tran Van Tinh said the project should hold exchanges among studentsof different schools so that they can share their thoughts and learn from oneanother. He recommended providing more books on children’s rights for schools,and increasing training for teachers in this field.-VNA