Launching the 2012 National Volunteer Awards

The award honors volunteer organizations and volunteers with outstanding achievements in volunteer work.

On September 20 in Hanoi, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Program held the launching ceremony of the 2012 National Volunteer Awards.

According to the Organizing Committee, the Award aims to honor volunteer organizations and volunteers with outstanding achievements in volunteer work. This is an opportunity for volunteer organizations and volunteers to meet, exchange, share experiences, connect volunteer activities, thereby contributing to promoting the development of the volunteer movement.

Mr. Nguyen Phi Long, Permanent Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union - Head of the Award Organizing Committee said: The Award will be held from September to December 2012. Immediately after the launching ceremony, the Award Organizing Committee will receive nominations and applications from volunteer organizations and volunteers from September 20 to October 20, 2012. Those interested can download the application form on the Program's website at:www.giaithuongtinhnguyen.vn.

The subjects and criteria for awarding the Prize include:

- For organizations: Government agencies and organizations; foreign volunteer organizations with offices and branches operating legally in Vietnam; non-governmental volunteer organizations with legal status and operating licenses in Vietnam; volunteer clubs, teams, and groups established for at least 1 year, with a management and coordination apparatus of at least 3 people and at least 20 volunteers.

- For individuals: Vietnamese citizens aged 15 and over living in Vietnam, with at least 2 consecutive years of volunteering activities; activities must be practical and effective for beneficiaries and the community.

Foreign individuals must be 18 years of age or older, belong to an organization, unit with legal status or an organization or branch authorized to conduct volunteer activities in Vietnam, have worked as a volunteer in Vietnam for at least 1 year and have made practical contributions.

The Organizing Committee will award 5 prizes for outstanding volunteer organizations and 5 prizes for outstanding individual volunteers. In addition, there will be awards for organizations, volunteers voted online and many other prizes.

The commendation and award ceremony will be held on the evening of December 4, 2012 in Hanoi, on the occasion of the 10th National Youth Union Congress./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT