A month of action for children entitled “Listening to children” will belaunched across the country from now to June 1, aiming to promote lawsand policy as well as actions on ensuring children’s right toparticipate.

Deputy Minister of the Labour-Invalids and SocialAffairs Dao Hong Lan made the announcement at a press conference held inHanoi on May 25, adding that the ministry will organize the officiallaunch of the month on May 29 in the northern province of Hai Duong

Shehighlighted that children’s forums are to be held at national andprovincial levels to collect their opinions on child-related issuesand on the draft revised Law on Child Protection, Care and Educationtogether with a draft programme on promoting children’s participationright for 2015-2020.

Numerous activities are also plannedfor the action month such as presenting gifts and scholarships fordisadvantaged children as well as inaugurating facilities for children.

Duringthe action month, the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC) willsplash out a total amount of 15 billion VND (698,000 USD) forhumanitarian activities including corrective surgery for children withfacial and eye defects, screening examination of congenital heartdiseases in children. The Fund will also begin work on several studentboarding houses, upgrade classrooms and build fresh water facilities insome provinces.

In the northern province of Ha Nam, 40 poorchildren were presented with scholarships at the launch of the month ofaction on May 25.

The same day in the southernprovince of Ben Tre, the provincial Labour, Invalids and Social AffairsDepartment in conjunction with a charity organisation handed over 70scholarships to children from poor families.-VNA