Inside a room of a university hostel. (Photo: vnexpress.net)
Hanoi(VNA) – Hundreds of rooms equipped with blankets, cushions, televisions and heaters will be available for the homeless at universities in Hanoi during the Tet (Lunar New Year) 2016 holiday.
This is part of the Hay Go Cua (Knock on Door) campaign, which aims to provide the homeless a shelter during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Can Anh Tuan, director of the training assistance centre of National Economics University, said the university would open the dormitory for 15 days from February 2 to 15 to welcome the homeless.
"The university does not have a limit on the number of beds for the poor. At present, we have ten well-equipped rooms with 40 beds. These rooms are guest rooms for lecturers to take a break at noon or those that have not been rented by students," Tuan said on vnexpress.net.
The university will also hold an end-of-year party and present gifts to provide a warm atmosphere for the homeless during the Lunar New Year.
Those who do not have personal documents will also be allowed to stay in the university, which will work with the authorities to help them register for temporary residence.
"Ten officers and security guards will work round the clock to ensure the safety of these people as well as the school's facilities, in case some people make use of the opportunity to create trouble," Tuan said.
He said he hoped the volunteers would expand the meaningful programme for the needy, and that the homeless would get rid of any inferiority complex for moving into the dormitory.
Hanoi Foreign Trade University is also preparing 40 beds for the homeless.
"On the afternoon of February 7 (the last afternoon of the lunar year), the university will organise a party for those who come to live at our hostel. We will serve them two meals a day at our canteen during their stay at our university," Bui Ngoc Dung, head of the facility management department at Hanoi Foreign Trade University, said.
Vietnam National University in Hanoi has also opened 15 rooms at its hostel in Nam Tu Liem district from February 5 to 14, to welcome about 100 people.
Hanoi National University of Education and the Academy of Finance are also ready to welcome the poor and the homeless during the Tet holiday.-VNA
