The 2014 Voluntary Youth Year kicked off in the northern province of Dien Bien on January 19 with a series of activities in support of underprivileged children and families of war heroes.

The year will focus on the construction of new-style rural and urban areas so as to bring about better social well-being.

Over the past 15 years, the voluntary youth campaign has spread widely with tens of millions of students taking part, during which they have raised their sense of responsibility for national construction and defence.

Following the launch ceremony, the provincial youngsters visited and presented gifts to needy students, the poor and those who rendered services to the nation.

They also voluntarily donated blood, offered free health check-ups and medicine to the locals and launched construction of a new cultural village house.-VNA