(VOVworld) – December 5th is observed by the United Nations as International Volunteer Day (IVD), aiming to show to the world volunteers’ achievements in a year. This day honors voluntary groups and individuals and their charity activities to boost global development in general and of each country in particular. VOV’s reporter Thu Hang review major charity activities by young volunteers in Hanoi to mark International Volunteer Day under the theme “Youth, Global, Dynamic”.
Young volunteers clean the environment in Thuy An commune, Ba Vi district, Hanoi. (photo: thanhdoanhanoi.gov.vn) |
The “Warm, sentimental winter - 2013” program has been implemented for two weeks. Members of the VPV Club are happy to receive donations from kindhearted people including warm clothes, books, notebooks, and confectionery. The program focuses on taking care of vulnerable people, young disadvantaged people, healthcare, new rural development, building charity houses, and blood donation. Le Van Manh is in charge of the Club’s personnel. "The “warm, sentimental winter – 2013” aims to encourage young people to promote the spirit of mutual support for children and people in disadvantaged areas. Young people can contribute to national development."
Blood donation has been a popular activity in Vietnam. The good deed helps share the burden with the patients’ families, promote the tradition of mutual support in community, and support doctors in medical treatment. “Blood drops begins life” or “Live to love” are messages blood donors convey to the community. Nguyen Anh Tri, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said: "Blood donation is a meaningful activity in the National Volunteer Day. People of all ages can donate blood. It’s a noble act to save the lives of people who are in urgent need of blood."
Charity activities for social security and community have flourished in all sectors. Volunteers get involved in traffic instruction, helping poor hospitalized patients by offering them cheap meals, raising fund for flood-affected people in the central region, and assisting orphans and lonely elderly people.
The Hanoi Youth Union has organized an annual voluntary program in Lao to offer free medical checks and medicines to Laotians and help them build public works worth from between 15,000 to 25,000 USD. Nguyen Sy Truong said: "Over the past 7 years, we have regular voluntary programs in Vientiane. We offer local people with free health checks and medicines, instruct them husbandry techniques, introduce new varieties of plants and animals, teach Vietnamese for Laotians, upgrade schools and libraries, give them computers, and organize student exchanges. Laotians appreciate the traditional relationship with Vietnam and young people of the two countries have built good sentiment."
Young volunteers’ contributions have been acknowledged nationwide. They have also connected with international voluntary movements to build the image of Vietnamese people in the new era.