Join hands to bring a warm Mid-Autumn Festival to less fortunate children

Sharing love at social welfare facilities

Arriving at SOS Children's Village Vinh on the 12th day of the 8th lunar month, we witnessed the bustling atmosphere of preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival for the children. Right in the middle of the large yard of the village, with the support of mothers and members of the Hung Phuc ward, the children gathered around the star lanterns and the lanterns. Each group was divided into groups to tie the frame, cut paper, apply glue, and stick paper on the lanterns with bright, beautiful colors. On the left corner of the yard, other children practiced dancing and singing to perform on the Mid-Autumn night. Gift boxes, candy boxes, and fruits for the Mid-Autumn Festival were also carefully prepared by the mothers.

It is known that on this Mid-Autumn Festival, SOS Children's Village Vinh welcomed many delegations from agencies and units to visit and give hundreds of gifts to orphans and disadvantaged children here, such as the Department of Culture and Sports, Department of Education and Training, City Party Committee, Vinh City People's Committee, along with a number of businesses and youth union members of Vinh University, Top 20 contestants of the Vinh City Beauty Contest...

Ngo Van Cuong (born 2012) said: “Every year, we receive gifts from young people and organizations, and we have a lot of fun. I hope all other disadvantaged children outside the village will receive gifts and have fun like us.”

Still atCenter for Education and Vocational Training for the DisabledThe Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has just organized the "Moon of Love" program for 225 disabled children who are being cared for, raised, educated, and trained in culture and vocational skills here.
A special thing is that the program has performances by the deaf and autistic students of the performance center. In addition, along with gifts from the Provincial Party Committee - People's Council - People's Committee - Provincial Fatherland Front Committee, there are also dozens of gifts from the Nghe An Provincial Children's Fund.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lai - Vice President of the Provincial Children's Support Fund shared: "Every year, before each Mid-Autumn Festival, we try to call on charitable organizations and individuals to join hands to help children in difficult circumstances and children with disabilities have a happy and warm festival. We hope that these gifts will encourage and motivate students in difficult circumstances to continue to nurture their dreams, strive to achieve many achievements in their studies, encourage children with disabilities, contribute to easing the pain, help them integrate into the community early and reduce the burden on their families. In particular, the gifts given by the units will help children celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with full joy...".

These days, disadvantaged children at social welfare facilities and hospitals have received visits and gifts from many organizations, units, and volunteer groups.
For example, on September 23 (ie August 9 of the lunar calendar), a delegation from the Department of Financial Planning, the Office of the National Assembly went to Yen Thanh district to give gifts to orphans and disabled children at the Hien Luong social protection facility in Tho Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) - a place that cares for and raises 32 disabled, orphaned and disadvantaged children. The delegation presented the facility with many gifts worth more than 60 million VND, and also gave gifts to disadvantaged children, so that they could have a happy and warm Mid-Autumn Festival and make many efforts to become useful citizens for society in the future.

On September 27 (ie August 13th of the Lunar calendar), the volunteer group "Thanh Vinh's Pot of Loving Porridge" connected with kind-hearted people to support gifts and organize visits, encouragement and give candy, cakes, milk, and cash to 160 children being treated at the Pediatrics Department of Vinh City General Hospital, Branch 1, Lung Hospital, Traditional Medicine Hospital, Nghe An Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center, with the desire to bring joy and warm sharing to the patients.
Previously, the volunteer group organized a Mid-Autumn Festival program and gave gifts to orphans and disabled children at orphanage and disabled children centers in Nghi Loc district.

Mid-Autumn Festival in remote areas

In Hoa Lam fishing village, Hung Hoa commune, Vinh city, the days leading up to Mid-Autumn Festival seem to be happier, as every child is eager to welcome a meaningful day.
Hoa Lam fishing village has more than 80 households, including 75 children. On the evening of September 24, Hung Hoa commune organized an early Mid-Autumn Festival with the hope of bringing joy to children. The children of the fishing village were eager and excited to join in the vibrant and joyful activities such as lion dance, enjoying the performances, carrying star lanterns, receiving gifts and breaking the cake...

“The Mid-Autumn Festival program in the fishing village has brought joy and warmth to poor children, while also educating and orienting them about their roots, customs and good traditions of the nation,” said Mr. Dinh Gia Khanh - Secretary of the Youth Union of Hung Hoa commune.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, authorities at all levels in mountainous districts have made efforts to bring ethnic minority children a Mid-Autumn Festival full of love.
In Nghia Dan district, the district People's Committee has just coordinated with the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs to organize a Mid-Autumn Festival program for children in the remote commune of Nghia Lac - where there are nearly 900 children, including more than 200 children from poor households, children in especially difficult circumstances such as orphans and disabled.

Luong Xuan Nghia (born 2013) in Men hamlet, Nghia Lac commune excitedly said: "This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is really fun because there are many exciting performances by the brothers, sisters, and friends. I also received gifts from uncles, aunts, and friends in the province and district, and got to participate in the feast."

In Que Phong district, Ms. Lo Thi Nguyet - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee said: "Que Phong has over 1,000 poor children and children in especially difficult circumstances. To bring them a warm Mid-Autumn Festival, Que Phong People's Committee has sent an appeal to state agencies, socio-political organizations, armed forces, economic organizations, officials, civil servants, philanthropists and all people in the district to support and help with money and goods to help the children enjoy a meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival.

Along with calling for support, Que Phong district organized a Mid-Autumn Festival program for children in Hanh Dich and Cam Muon communes. In each commune, the organizing committee gave hundreds of gifts to poor students who overcame difficulties, gave dozens of cartons of milk, and gave bicycles to children in especially difficult circumstances.

However, somewhere in the province, there are still children in difficult circumstances who have not been able to celebrate a proper Mid-Autumn Festival. For example, in the small fishing village at the foot of Yen Xuan bridge, Xuan Lam commune (Hung Nguyen), the atmosphere is still very quiet. Because of the burden of making a living, fathers and mothers cannot give their children a complete and proper Children's Festival.

Ms. Doan Thi Thanh - a resident of the fishing village said: "My family has 6 children, living on the same small boat of about 7 square meters. With so many children, life is so difficult, so earning a living is already difficult, let alone letting the children enjoy the entire Mid-Autumn Festival."

Pham Thi Thuy - Grade 7 student of Nguyen Bieu Secondary School shared: "Since I was a child, I have never bought a star lantern and have never participated in the Mid-Autumn Festival with my friends because life mostly takes place on a boat. Every year on Mid-Autumn Festival, my mother only buys my sisters and I one star lantern to play with."

Mr. Bui Van Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs said: "Organizing activities to care for poor children to have the opportunity to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival is increasingly receiving more attention from society with the support and assistance of many social organizations and philanthropists. However, in reality, there are still many poor children, children in difficult circumstances, especially in mountainous districts, coastal areas, fishing villages...

Therefore, we call on all levels, sectors and the whole society to pay more attention to children and also hope for closer and more specific coordination between the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs with sectors and organizations to create a healthy environment for children to live and develop well. With the help and sharing of the whole community and society, joy will spread everywhere, helping poor, disadvantaged and unlucky children to enjoy a complete and meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival.