Scholarships presented to children orphaned by Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City. Source: Thanh Nien newspaper

140 scholarships, worth VND 700 million (nearly USD 30,200), were presented to children orphaned by Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the International Children’s Day (June 1) and the birthday of the Queen of Thailand, Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana (June 3).

The scholarships, each worth VND 5 million, were presented by the Royal Thai Consulate-General in HCM City, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (ThaiCham), and the Association for Sponsoring Poor Patients in HCM City, reported NDO.

The delivery of the scholarships is among the charity activities that have been implemented by the Royal Thai Consulate-General and the Thai business community in Vietnam in recent years.

This aims to support disadvantaged people in Vietnam, especially children and the youth, while contributing to the promotion of friendship between Vietnam and Thailand.

Thai Consul General Wiraka Moodhitaporn said the “Love heart” (Trai tim yeu thuong) program showed the kindness of Thai people and businesses in HCM City on the basis of the relationship between the two countries and the love for children.

The campaign also helped promote closer ties between people of Thailand and Vietnam and marks its first activity in a series in the post-Covid-19.

Since 2010, the Royal Thai Consulate General and Thai businesses in Vietnam have been coordinating with the Association for Sponsoring Poor Patients in HCM City to organise various charity programmes such as providing eye and heart surgeries for child patients, and presenting gifts to needy people in the city.

Tran Thanh Long, chairman of the support association for poor patients, called the assistance a meaningful deed reflecting the attention to the local young generation, including those affected by the pandemic, and helping nurture the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Thailand.

He expressed his hope that the wholehearted support from domestic and foreign philanthropists will be a great source of spiritual encouragement for the children orphaned by Covid-19 to surmount difficulties and move forwards.

Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women Vietnam speaks at the launch. Photo: UN Women Vietnam

Meanwhile, more than 8,000 women in HCM City and the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang who are at risk of violence will be provided with livelihood support post-Covid.

Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women Vietnam and Robyn Mudie, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam on June 2 had a conversation with three women who are the beneficiaries of the new project launched by UN Women and Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

This is a one-year project worth USD 1.46 million that aims to provide recovery support to vulnerable women in Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang province. These provinces were two of the areas most affected by Covid-19 and are at high risk of natural disasters in the South of Vietnam.

This project will equip the beneficaries with knowledge and life-skills to cope with gender-based violence and information on how to seek available services and support.

It also will enhance the capacity of about 2,000 key service providers to respond effectively 24/7 to women’s needs in an integrated manner, following guidance of the United Nations’ Essential Services Package for victims of violence against women and children.

An estimated 8,000 women in HCM City and Tien Giang province who are poor or near poor, unemployed or have lost their income, and are at higher risk or survivors of violence and abuse, will benefit from cash transfers and technical assistance for livelihood recovery.

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