Over 100 disadvantaged children from Ho Chi Minh City got the chance to voice their opinions and wishes at a forum held in the city on June 26.

The children talked about the lack of play grounds in the city; the difficulties for disadvantaged children to access entertaining activities; the need to renovate school syllabus and add more life skills classes to improve educational quality.

Issues related to environmental protection and measures to prevent child begging and abuse at school were also the concerns of many young citizens.

According to the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, many measures have been implemented to protect and care for children, however, more efforts will be needed.

The forum aims at raising public awareness about children’s rights to participate in making policies related to children, especially those of disadvantaged backgrounds, she added.

Ho Chi Minh City is now home to 1.4 million children, of which, 15,000 are disadvantaged children and around 49,000 children at risk of becoming disadvantaged.-VNA