Vietnamese children equipped with life skills through rugby

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s disadvantaged children will be provided with soft skills like communication, leadership, support, and settlement of negative pressure and contradiction through the “Pass It Back” programme, which uses rugby to build resilience among young people.

The programme is developed by the ChildFund Australia, a non-profit organisation working for poverty alleviation for children in developing countries, as heard a press conference in Hanoi on August 15.

Under the “Pass It Back” curriculum, children and young people with little or no access to organised sports will be equipped to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change and pass it back to their communities.

According to Deborah Leaver, Country Director of ChildFund Vietnam, the sport brings a new approach to promote gender equality as there is no rule about gender of the players. Thus, the programme will help boys and girls have equal opportunities to develop life skills.

Bui Thi Tang, a rugby player in Kim Boi district of Hoa Binh province, said that: “Through activities in Pass It Back, I feel more confident to share my points and more responsible for tackling contradiction among the group’s members.”

She said her team, with 6 players, would set off for the Asia Rugby Championship in Iceland on August 16.

ChildFund’s Pass it Back programme was set up for children living in rural and remote villages of Laos and Vietnam, who face significant challenges in terms of poverty and inequality. To date, more than 2,500 children and youths in some of the poorest communities in the two countries have benefitted from the programme, with girls making up over 50 percent of the players and coaches.-VNA