President meets with 58 delegates of children in special circumstances

The 58 students attending this year's meeting are all excellent students for many years in a row, many of whom have achieved high results in district and provincial level exams.

On the occasion of International Children's Day (June 1) and in response to the Month of Action for Children 2017, on the afternoon of May 26, at the Presidential Palace, President Tran Dai Quang met with 58 poor but studious and excellent students, children in special and difficult circumstances from 11 provinces and centrally-run cities, and representatives from regions and areas across the country.

President meets with poor but studious students and children in special circumstances

According to the report of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, currently, out of 26 million children in our country, there are nearly 1.5 million children in special circumstances and more than 2.5 million children at risk of falling into special circumstances, in need of more attention from all levels, sectors and the joint efforts of families, schools and the whole society.

With the approval of the President, since June 2008, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has directed the Vietnam Children's Fund to annually organize a program for the President to meet and honor outstanding children in special and difficult circumstances.

From 2008 to 2016, 480 children from 63 provinces and cities were met and honored by the President at the Presidential Palace. Of the 480 children in especially difficult circumstances who attended the program, there were 145 children who had lost one parent, 90 children who had lost both parents, 12 children who were abandoned, and 20 children with disabilities.

The children participating in the program all have special and difficult circumstances; from remote areas, ethnic minorities, and island border areas. Although living in very difficult conditions, they all have the will to strive, overcome difficulties, and excel in life, study, and training.

Of the 58 students attending this year's meeting, all have been excellent students for many years, many of whom have achieved high results in district and provincial level exams... In addition to their academic achievements, some students have also achieved high results in aptitude exams such as poetry reading, painting, storytelling, dexterity, sports... In addition to their study time, most of them also help their families with work to make ends meet.

President receives gifts from outstanding students

Speaking at the meeting, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, President Tran Dai Quang sent his warm regards, warmest feelings and best wishes to the outstanding students for their spirit of overcoming difficulties, achieving high achievements in studying and training, being good children, excellent students, and good grandchildren of Uncle Ho.

The President stated that protecting, caring for and educating children is a consistent policy of the Party and State, and is a strategic issue. Thereby, it contributes significantly to preparing and improving the quality of human resources to serve the cause of industrialization, modernization of the country and international integration.

In recent years, the work of protecting, caring for and educating children has had positive changes and achieved important results. In particular, the legal system and policies for protecting, caring for and educating children have been gradually improved.

State management of child protection, care and education has been strengthened. The number of schools meeting national standards and the rate of children attending school at the right age are increasing. The work of protecting and building a safe and healthy living environment for children is focused on by all levels and sectors; cultural and spiritual life, entertainment, social welfare and children's rights are increasingly guaranteed.

President speaks at the meeting

President Tran Dai Quang emphasized: “The work of protecting and caring for children in general and children in special circumstances in particular has always received special attention from the Party, the State, all levels and sectors. In addition, philanthropists and socio-political organizations have paid special attention to families in difficult circumstances and to children in difficult circumstances.

This is the superiority in the policies of our country and regime. Children are given priority in protection, care and good education, which has been affirmed in the guidelines, policies and in each strategy and plan for socio-economic development of all levels and sectors, following an approach based on the needs and meeting the basic rights of children.

The President said that the above results were achieved thanks to the efforts of the entire political system, families, schools, society and the efforts of children to excel in their studies and training, including the outstanding students present here today.

In particular, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Child Protection Fund system at all levels over the past 25 years have done a good job of mobilizing domestic and international resources, calling on organizations and philanthropists to contribute nearly 5,500 billion VND, supporting over 30 million children in special circumstances, helping the dreams of many disadvantaged children come true.

The President emphasized that in order to strengthen the work of protecting, caring for and educating children, especially children in special circumstances, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and ministries, departments, branches and localities need to continue to effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on protecting, caring for and educating children.

Strengthen propaganda, education and mobilization so that all people can see the urgency and importance of child protection, care and education. In addition, it is necessary to promptly propagate and encourage advanced models, good people and good deeds; pay attention to legal education, knowledge, skills in child care, education and protection. At the same time, strongly criticize and condemn acts that violate the law, violate children's rights, abuse, violence, and entice children into criminal activities.

President Tran Dai Quang suggested: “We must continue to pay attention to building schools, playgrounds, and entertainment facilities for children, especially children in ethnic minority areas, particularly disadvantaged areas, areas affected by natural disasters and epidemics, children of policy families, poor families, and children with serious illnesses.

Focus on socializing the work of protecting, caring for and educating children in the direction of promoting the responsibility of families, schools, communities and socio-political organizations. At the same time, focus on and encourage the contributions of businesses, agencies, organizations and individuals to serve activities and projects for children.

The President took souvenir photos with outstanding students

The President requested the Vietnam Children's Fund to proactively coordinate with relevant agencies to continue to consolidate and improve the fund's organizational system at all levels, striving to make the fund truly become a bridge and a trusted address for Vietnamese children.

On this occasion, the President called on domestic and international agencies, organizations, individuals and philanthropists to continue to pay attention to and support the Vietnam Children's Fund, actively contributing to the cause of protecting, caring for and educating children./.

According to VOV