The prolonged COVID-19 resurgence has caused many parents to turn unemployed and shoulder a financial burden in purchasing books and school supplies for their children in the ongoing new academic year 2021 – 2022. Fully aware of difficulties encountering needy families, the Da Nang Association of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee, in collaboration with other relevant agencies at all levels, has implemented many highly-practical activities to empower poor pupils to go to school and keep their academic dreams go ahead.

The representative of the Thac Gian Ward chapter of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee, Thanh Khe district (left) and representative of ward-based Youth Union (right) presented gifts to a poor pupil.

After the opening ceremony of the new school year 2021 - 2022, Vo Thi Ngoc Khuyen,11, living in residential group No.53, Hoa Quy Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, received an essential gift including fresh milk, face masks, and antiseptic water, food and VND 200,000 in cash from the representative of the municipal Youth Union.

Similarly, Le Thi Thuy Tien, 13, residing in Hoa Khuong Tay Hamlet, Hoa Khuong Commune, Hoa Vang District, was excited to receive a cash gift from the municipal Youth Union. Such financial aid helped the girl partly make the purchase school supplies for studying.

The aforementioned donations were part of the ongoing supportive programme named ‘Million bags of social welfare’ organized by the municipal Youth Union and the municipal Young Pioneers Organisation with the objective of supporting extremely poor children in Ngu Hanh Son and Hoa Vang districts.

Accordingly, gifts, each worth VND 400,000, were already presented to 50 needy children, thereby contributing to financially supporting them during the tough time triggered by the ongoing coronavirus resurgence.

Moreover, the programme ‘Zero-VND bookstore’  has been launched to give 200 gifts, each worth 500,000 VND, consisting of notebooks, learning tools, textbooks, children's comics, masks and antiseptic solutions to poor pupils in Cam Le and Son Tra districts.

This programme is not only an opportunity to show special attention to the needy children but also acts as a helping help to share difficulties with them. Through this programme, children in difficult circumstances are supported both physically and mentally to focus on studying in the new school year.

Similarly, on the last opening day of this new school year, Thac Gian Ward has mobilized VND 6 million from former officials of Thai Phien Senior High School's Youth Union organisation to support 12 poor pupils in the local area.

Likewise, the Union of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Parks has also presented 15 sets of textbooks to extremely pupils in Son Tra District, helping their families to ease their worries before the new school year.

Apart from the municipal Youth Union's relay to school activities, Women's Union at all levels has also regularly given scholarships titled ‘Green Dreams’ at the beginning of the new school year. Accordingly, from the collection and classification of garbage, they have established the ‘Green Dream’ scholarship fund to support poor studious students.

On the occasion of the opening of the new school year 2021-2022, the Women's Union in Hai Chau 1 Ward, Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District awarded a total of 119 scholarships to poor pupils; and the Tan Phuoc 3 Women's Union, Thuan Phuoc Ward, also gave 2 sets of textbooks to poor studious pupils.

The purpose of fundraising activities and "Green Dreams" scholarship awarding is to mobilize the cooperation of Women's Unions at all levels to take care of and motivate poor students to continue their studies. We have all known that life during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for parents and children alike; however, the COVID-19 pandemic will pass and we will return to our daily lives soon.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG- Translating by T.VY