Eighty young scientists from HCM City's universities and research centres on March 13 began a volunteer campaign to help farmers and workers apply modern technology in daily life and production.

The new volunteer programme is expected to provide science and technology support to 4,000 people by early next month. The scientists will kick off a second programme in summer.

The volunteers will organise courses and consulting programmes in several areas including psychology, agriculture, information technology and law.

Doan Kim Thanh, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union's Youth Science and Technology Development Centre, said: "After this campaign, I hope young scientists who are studying and researching abroad will return and join this programme."

"This is a practical programme which should be popularised among the youth. The union should be more active and work to develop more playground and entertainment options for youngsters," said Ly Quoc Bao, a third year student of Ton Duc Thang University .

Nguyen Cong Tinh, director of the centre, said this was the second time the union had organised the programme, hoping to apply knowledge and skills of the youth in real life and contribute to the city's development.

He said he hoped that during their volunteer work, the young scientists would discover more research topics involving real-life issues that city residents face. /.