Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires to Vietnam from the G4 countries (New Zealand, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland) visit Village Chance - a complex of schools and apartments for disabled, poor, and orphaned children in Ho Chi Minh City - ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

They played sports with the children and conveyed New Year wishes, which were recorded in a 3-minute video clip.  Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil said:“This Tet I want to support those who are working towards a more inclusive education in Vietnam, to ensure that education is inclusive, free from any barriers, and that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

In the video clip, Norway’s Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken was seen drawing cats for Tet. She said:“Everyone has the right to a decent job. A decent job is the key to ending poverty and ensuring social inclusion. I hope that the Year of the Cat will bring an opportunity to everyone to take part in the workforce. That way we can grow together as a prosperous and inclusive society.”

Founded in 1993, Village Chance is a project of Maison Chance, founded by a Swiss woman dedicated to the disabled and the poor in Vietnam, and the HCM City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients. It has supported hundreds of the less fortunate in Vietnam since its establishment.