The sports festival draws 350 children (Photo: VNA) The event was part ofa project to support the improvement of living quality of persons with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with AgentOrange (Inclusion I), which is funded by the US Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID).
Director of the USAID Vietnam’s Reconciliationand Inclusive Development Office RituTariyal said that the project is one of the prominent that the USAID hasimplemented in Vietnam in 30 years, aiming to provide the best integrationconditions to the children, as inclusion is a basic human right.
The festival drew 43delegations with 350 children with intellectual and developmental disabilities,together with more than 400 caregivers and teachers. The children competed in diversesports such as swimming, running, walking, wheelchair race, and tug of war.
The organising board also designed a common space with free movement games andcreative corners for children and parents.
A gala night with a “Light It Up Blue” event was held to mark the World Autism Awareness Day.
Doan Quoc Hung, deputy head of the project’s Management Board, said that in Vietnam,children with disabilities always receive special attention. He said thatthrough the festival, the organising board hopes to bring health benefits to thechildren as well as promoting their confidence, inclusion and equality.
Inclusion I Project has been carried out in three central provinces ofQuang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam at a cost of 6.9million USD./.
VNA
