(VNF) - 15 sponsors from the Netherlands completed their cycling journey from Hanoi to Lai Chau, despite challenges and distance, to raise EUR 60.000 (USD 74.202) to improve the lives of ethnic minority children in Lai Chau province.

Sponsors from the Netherlands pose for group with children and Plan’s staff in Lai Chau. (Photo: Plan International Vietnam)

The trip takes place from March 8^th-16^th allowing participants to experience undiscovered and remote regions of the southeast Asian country while raising much needed funding for Plan International’s projects for girls.

Cyclists from a wide variety of backgrounds joins the trip and immersed themselves in local culture while pedalling 400km through stunning rice paddy fields, mountain villages and remote villages.

During their visit in Lai Chau on March 12^th-14^th, the sponsors were very happy to meet their sponsored children for the first time, and had the chance to talk and bond with them. They also visited the Ending child marriage project by Plan International Vietnam, to know more about its main purpose and the changes that Plan International is making in the community.

15 sponsors are on their way back to Hanoi and will be arrived at the city on March 16^th.

Sponsors play games with local children. (Photo: Plan International Vietnam)

Cycle4Plan (known as Cycle4Girls before 2017) is an annual fundraising event organised by Plan International Vietnam and Netherlands. During their activities, sponsors will commit to cycling over a distance of 400km, aiming to raise funds for project and activities for ethnic minority children in remote areas.

The program first began in 2014, and so far has been organised for four years (2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018) with seven cycling sessions in four provinces (Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Lai Chau and Hanoi). A total of 134 sponsors have been participated. Between 2017 and 2018, the program raised more than EUR 200,000 (USD 247.342) for the Ending child marriage project in Lai Chau.

The goal of Cycle4Plan is to provide opportunities for sponsors to visit and learn about the projects implemented by the Plan in communities. At the same time, the program also helps sponsors and the Dutch community better understanding children's rights and child marriage in remote areas.

Plan International has been working in Vietnam since 1993. The organisation’s work in northern Vietnam aims to provide bilingual schooling to ethnic minorities, especially girls, through improved learning spaces and better teacher training./.

Translated by Hien Trinh