A closing ceremony of the "Safe and Friendly City for Women and Girls" project, organized by the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD) in collaboration with partner Plan International Vietnam took place on December 10.

All hands on deck

The project received financial and technical support from Plan International to start a pre-feasibility survey in Hanoi from 2012. During the 2014 - 2016 period, the project was piloted at a number of schools in Dong Anh district and coordinated with the Public Transport Management Center under the Hanoi Department of Transport.

Continuing the achievements, during the 2016-2020 period, the project has been implemented by the Department of Gender Equality under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Hanoi Women's Union with important components on communication to raise awareness and strategic orientation for a safe and friendly city for girls.

From July 2020 to June 2023, the project has continued to be supported by the MSD, the Institute for Development & Community Health (LIGHT), the Department of Gender Equality, Hanoi Women's Union and its branches in 6 selected areas including Long Bien, Ung Hoa, Bac Tu Liem, Dong Anh, Thanh Xuan and Dong Da, then expanded to all schools in Dong Anh along with University of Transport.

At the closing ceremony. Photo: MSD

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, MSD Executive Director Nguyen Phuong Linh emphasized that the "Safe and Friendly City for Women and Girls" project is like a long, long bus trip on a 10-year journey. MSD is extremely happy to be accompanying this journey on the past 5 years. She voices her hope that together they can create more Champions of Change, to ensure that cities, buses, public places, and within each people, a safe space.

Le Quynh Lan, Impact and Partner Program Manager at Plan International Vietnam shared that Plan is the unit with the initiatives and connections for the "Safe and Friendly City for Women and Girls" project. However, to have a successful 10-year journey like today, they are very grateful for the commitment and support from the State and Government agencies, relevant parties, as well as teachers and students. The project is one of the key models in Plan International's Gender-Based Violence Prevention Program.

In the future, she said, Plan is committed to implementing such projects or a new model, aimed at promoting gender equality, children's rights, as well as collaborating to create sustainable change, believing in the ability of boys and girls to create change.

Making adolescent girls champions, change makers and future shapers

Meanwhile, Le Van Son, head of the Independent Evaluation Consulting Group, stressed the success of the project.

First, the project has built a network of Champions of Change (COC) Clubs. Young students are trained in basic knowledge about gender equality, how to prevent gender-based violence, and harassment in public places. From there, they can spread information to improve knowledge to other youths on how to identify bad behavior and prevent them.

Besides, the project also creates a safe and friendly environment for youngters in which they can express their opinions to local leaders, he added, especially, after listening to the children's opinions, the leaders made important decisions, meeting their legitimate wishes and needs.

The project has also created a core team of guides and teachers with full skills and knowledge to help students identify problems, risks, and provide them with knowledge to prevent and respond to acts of violence and abuse. Teachers are companions, supporters, and integrators to help and spread knowledge to students. Their parents also became more open to children with different gender expressions, as well as gave boys and girls the equal treatments, he pointed out.

On December 6, 2023, more than 600 students, teachers, and parents of Co Loa Secondary School, Dong Anh district, Hanoi participated in the discussion themed "New generation - Speaking up for a safe city". Photo: Plan

For her part, Chu Thi Hong Yen, representative of Dong Anh Department of Education and Training also shared the process of participating in the project as well as the results that the project has brought are "beyond expectations."

In particular, those students participating in the project become more confident. They also have good presentation skills and dare to voice their opinions. In fact, their suggestions and contributions have helped them a lot in the process of building the project of Dong Anh into a municipal district, she highlighted. Among them, there are three sizable projects with consultation from the children including lake and pond management project in Dong Anh; camera installation project; and tree planting and management project.

Dare to speak up, dare to inspire

A representative of COC Club Nguyen Thanh Phuong, confessed, "Before joining the COC Club, we were shy, timid students to express opinions in front of the crowd, with gender stereotypes're constantly in the back of our mind... Always think that studying is more important, and don't want to learn another skills."

However, after joining the club, the club members were oriented by teachers and guides to participate in project activities such as training sessions and activities, allowing them to discuss and exchange gender issues, as well as gender equality.

Every year they participate in media events at school about gender equality, eliminating school violence, eliminating gender-based violence, to build a safe and equitable school, helping them recognize acts of harassment and sexual violence against children. In addition, the club members can also participate in direct dialogues with leaders, teachers and parents to voice thoughts and needs, thereby building the safe, friendly and equal city for everyone.

"We also felt clear changes in ourselves," Phuong recalled, "become more confident and have the courage to speak up. They also learn how to listen and respect everyone's opinions."

More importantly, the club members can also see the maturity in their own thoughts and actions. From then on, all of they dared to participate in more activities to spread the word to everyone, she concluded.

Video: MSD

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