A month of action for children entitled “Listening to children” will be launched across the country from now to June 1, aiming to promote laws and policy as well as actions on ensuring children’s right to participate.

Deputy Minister of the Labour-Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan made the announcement at a press conference held in Hanoi on May 25, adding that the ministry will organize the official launch of the month on May 29 in the northern province of Hai Duong

She highlighted that children’s forums are to be held at national and provincial levels to collect their opinions on child-related issues and on the draft revised Law on Child Protection, Care and Education together with a draft programme on promoting children’s participation right for 2015-2020.

Numerous activities are also planned for the action month such as presenting gifts and scholarships for disadvantaged children as well as inaugurating facilities for children.

During the action month, the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC) will splash out a total amount of 15 billion VND (698,000 USD) for humanitarian activities including corrective surgery for children with facial and eye defects, screening examination of congenital heart diseases in children. The Fund will also begin work on several student boarding houses, upgrade classrooms and build fresh water facilities in some provinces.

In the northern province of Ha Nam, 40 poor children were presented with scholarships at the launch of the month of action on May 25.

The same day in the southern province of Ben Tre, the provincial Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department in conjunction with a charity organisation handed over 70 scholarships to children from poor families.-VNA