National fund for children lights hope for disadvantaged

Hanoi (VNA) – The annual meeting between the President and disadvantaged students, arranged by the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC) since 2008, has lit up hope for many of them.

Among fifty-five underprivileged children from across the country who were honoured by President Trang Dai Quang this year at the celebration of International Children’s Day (June 1) were Nguyen Dang Khoa from Hai Phong, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tran from Tra Vinh, Phan Thu Trang from Son La and Truong Thi Lam Sa from Nghe An. They all have achieved excellent academic results despite coming from difficult backgrounds.

Nguyen Dang Khoa, a 13-year-old boy who was born blind in a poor single-parent family, has impressed people with his confidence and cleverness. Khoa was awarded third prize at a national competition on history.

He said he hopes to become a teacher in the future so he will be able to help blind children in their lives and study.

Phan Thu Trang, born in 2001, is an orphan raised by her grandparents. She was honoured with a bronze medal at the national competition in mathematics last year, and has also won eight medals, including four gold, three silver and one bronze, at the provincial chess contests.

Over the past 24 years, the NFVC has mobilised over 5 trillion VND (225 million USD) from domestic and foreign donors to support more than 30 million children in need. Last year, the fund raised approximately 102 billion VND for over 108,000 children nationwide.

The fund has organised annual meetings with the President for 425 outstanding students in difficult circumstances since 2008, providing them chances to talk to Party and State leaders, and to visit President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Museum and the Temple of Literature. The children have also been financially supported by sponsors.

By 2015, the country had 26.7 million children, including 1.5 million living in difficulties, or 5.6 percent.-VNA