After nearly three years of implementing the "Godmother" programme launched by the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Women's Union, women's unions at all levels in Hoa An Ward, Cam Le District, Da Nang, have made efforts to mobilise the community to join hands to care for the spiritual and material lives of dozens of orphans and poor children with a budget of hundreds of millions of VND.

The Women’s Union in Hoa An Ward, Cam Le District, Da Nang giving financial support to a child under the "Godmother" programme

Late in the evening, after helping his mother with housework, Nguyen Cong Phuc, born in 2007 and residing in group 34, Hoa An Ward, sat down at his desk to prepare his lessons for school tomorrow.

His family is a near-poor household in the locality. His father died early, leaving his mother as the main breadwinner, but the income from selling rice rolls is not enough to make ends meet. Thanks to the timely care and support of local women's unions at all levels, Phuc was able to continue going to school. He is now a 11^th grader at the Thai Phien Senior High School.

Phuc's life is now being written into new pages when he has more special mothers. "Since having the companionship of the “godmothers”, I have always been confident in facing daily life. Aside from reminding and guiding my children to do their homework, the mothers also help me gain knowledge about mental health, as well as comfort and console me when I encounter difficulties. I will try to study well so that in the future I can have a stable job and have the conditions to share and help children in difficult circumstances like me now" Phuc shared.

Mrs. Duong Thi Ha, Head of the Women's Union No. 10 in Hoa An Ward, is Phuc's “godmother”. She said that under the "Godmother" programme, members of the union regularly visit and support the family of Phuc.

Mrs. Ha added "The greatest meaning of the programme does not stop at the numbers and the amount of support, but also the love from the sponsors and the unfortunate children. I myself and many other women feel happy when bringing happiness to orphans. That is the motivation for us to continue to mobilise more organisations to respond the programme positively".

Similarly, the Women's Union No. 12 has been supporting Tran Nguyen Quynh Anh (born in 2013) for many years. Like Phuc, Quynh Anh also lost her father at a young age. Her mother is disabled and has to work hard to raise her two children.

Therefore, the Women's Union No. 12 has mobilised members to adopt Anh and supported her with the monthly allowance of VND 500,000 and necessary school supplies.

Quynh Anh shared that thanks to the kindness and financial and in-kind support of mothers, her studies have been much easier. Without the godmothers, she probably would not have been able to continue going to school.

Stories about godmothers and children, how to effectively implement the programme, and the results of the programme implementation have created a strong spread and response in the community.

Vice President of the Women's Union of Hoa An Ward Nguyen Phuc Kim Phuong revealed that to improve the efficiency of the "Godmother" programme in the coming time, local women's unions at all levels will continue to spread widely the practical meanings of the programme; strengthen connections and mobilise social resources; and providing vocational training for children who graduate from junior high schools.

Reporting by MINH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG