Provincial children’s forum: Voice of children from Lao Cai province

Chau Thi Tao, 15, was attending Lao Cai’s Children’s Forum in July 2013, where she and 51 other young students voiced up for their rights to participation. They were gathering to influence the amendment of the Law on Protection, Care and Education of Children.

“I want child marriage to end. I can talk to my friends and other people in my homeland about children’s rights and how the Law protects them.” – Tao said. “Early marriage cannot help people to escape poverty. I hope policy makers will consider this issue more seriously when they amend the Law.”

Chau Thi Tao before the National Children Forum. ©  UNICEF Viet Nam\2013\Nguyen Huong Ly

Bilingual education for ethnic minority children in Viet Nam

Vang Thi Thu Ha, 9, participates in the bilingual education pilot 

Vang Thi Thu Ha, a third grader at Ban Pho Primary School in Lao Cai - a poor northern mountainous province of Viet Nam, is articulating the strengths of bilingual education and a more equitable future for the nation’s ethnic minority population.

UNICEF's Next Generation Vietnam Field Visit

From 17 till 21 June, representatives from the US Next Generation, a group of young entrepreneurs that advocate for UNICEF in the United-States, visited UNICEF projects in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap. UNICEF Next Generation United States members are influential and passionate young adults (age 18-35) who are committed to supporting UNICEF's mission to fulfill the rights of all children through the deliverance of educational and fundraising programmes. Nicole Neal, one of these visitors, has shared her diary with us. 

One Family, One Toilet: Changing Old Habits to Save Lives in Northern Viet Nam

Quai Nua commune, Tuan Giao district – Until not so long ago, Lo, Thi Trang, did exactly like other children in her village when the call of nature came. 

“I used to poop in the river”, the 12 year-old giggles. “We had had no toilet and did not even know what it was. Really, I didn’t mind. We used to go down the hill to the river. Everyone in the village was doing the same: no shame! During the rainy season, it was a bit scary as it became slippery and we had to watch our steps.”

Trang is proud to introduce the new hygienic latrine that her parents built next to her house seven months ago, in Quai Nua commune, Tuan Giao district, Dien Bien province.

© UNICEF Viet Nam/2013/Matthew Dakin

Boarding schools provide education and security for vulnerable children in Viet Nam

A programme in Viet Nam supports ethnic minority children in their learning.

Giang Thi Me is visiting her family during weekend. Together with 90 other Mong students, she stays in school in weekdays as it’s too far for her to travel from home to school everyday.

DIEN BIEN PROVINCE, Viet Nam – At 6:30 a.m. in this remote, mountainous region of northern Viet Nam, the day has begun at the Tua Thang boarding school. Giang Thi Me, 7, is one of the more than 300 students at the school. She is a member of the Mong ethnic minority. Together with 90 other students, Me stays in the school in weekdays as it’s too far for her to travel from home to school everyday.