Awards for enterprises employing the disabled

An awards ceremony was held for the first time in Hanoi on May 16 to honour enterprises and organizations that have employed people with disabilities.

The “Dai bang Xanh 2008” awards were offered by the VCCI and the Vietnam Association for Supporting the Disabled to celebrate Vietnam Day for the Disabled (April 18) and May Day.

At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dam Huu Dac said he welcomed the VCCI’s initiative which he hoped will raise employers’ awareness of the issues regarding disabled workers and serve as a forum for the disabled to seek jobs.

Awards will be given annually to state corporations, domestic small- and medium-sized enterprises, joint ventures, disabled labourers and other individuals.

Vietnam, Hungary co-operate on climate change

On the fringe of the ongoing visit, the President of the Republic of Hungary Mr Laszlo Solyom attended a round-table conference on climate change in Hanoi on May 16.

Speaking at the conference, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said that Vietnam has signed and adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol.

Moreover, Vietnam is developing a national programme to quickly respond to climate change and is willing to co-operate with other countries worldwide, Mr Hai added.

For his part, Mr Laszlo Solyom affirmed that climate change is a global issue which is challenging many countries on hunger, poverty and social security and that governments should join hands in coping with the phenomenon.

The Hungarian leader also praised Vietnamese Government for its achievements in preventing the country from being severely affected by the issue and expressed his hope that the two countries will share experiences in this field. Hungary will assist Vietnam in training local climate change experts, the President said.

10,000 candles burnt for world peace

My Dinh National Conventional Centre glowed in the light of more than 10,000 candles in a special ceremony for world peace, prosperity and happiness in Hanoi on May 16.

The candle lighting ceremony, held during celebrations of the UN Day of Vesak in Vietnam , also offered prayers for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar and the earthquake in China ’s Sichuan province.

The candles formed the shape of the ancient swastika symbol that represents harmony, balance and well-being.

New Zealand assists on labour market forecasts

New Zealand experts have assisted Vietnamese agencies to outline a plan to provide labour market forecasts and information to narrow the gap between supply and demand.

The international experts also joined with Vietnamese colleagues in working out how training facilities in Vietnam can address labour market demand at an international seminar held in Hanoi on May 16.

The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs said although the workforce in the country grows at 2.45 percent per year, the youth unemployment rate of 10 percent remains high.

According to the ministry, the high youth unemployment rate was mainly due to an imbalance in the supply capacity of educational institutions and the market demand.

The assistance comes as Vietnamese relevant agencies are working on establishing a national centre of labour market forecasting and information and a centre that provides analysis and forecasts on human resource training.

At the seminar, New Zealand experts also presented opportunities for cooperation in training between universities of the two countries as well as scholarship programmes in New Zealand.

Canon helps schools in mountainous areas

Canon Vietnam will donate 2.15 billion VND (134,375 USD) to help improve studying conditions for students in seven schools in mountainous and isolated areas of northern Lang Son, Yen Bai, Lai Chau and Ha Giang provinces.

An agreement to this effect was signed in Hanoi on May 16 between Canon Vietnam General Director Sachio Kageyama and representatives from People’s Committees of districts benefitting from the project.

According to Sachio Kageyama, the “String of Canon Friendship Schools” project will be rolled out in the northern mountainous provinces from now to 2010.

Netherlands continues vision to assist the blind

Blind children in central Quang Tri province will have the chance to gain information technology (IT) skills with additional funds provided from the Netherlands in its aid to visually-impaired Vietnamese.

In addition to pledging more aid to help blind students learn IT, the Netherlands-Vietnam Health Committee presented on May 16 a donation for Quang Tri province’s Blind Association to upgrade classrooms and bedrooms for the children.

During its visit to the province, a committee delegation also presented gifts to the association and said it would buy more gifts for children on major national celebrations.

The group also joined children of the Quang Tri Blind Association in a music performance.

The Netherlands-Vietnam Health Committee, a major donor to the Blind Association of central Quang Tri province, provides annually about 120 million VND to the association.

The aid is used to cover expenses on food, teaching aids and other activities for blind children.

The Dutch government has also helped Quang Tri build a hospital to facilitate treatment for patients in the locality.

German to be taught at Vietnamese high schools

German will be taught at several high schools in Vietnam this year under a project funded by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The language will be offered to sixth- and tenth-grade students at Lomonosov and Phuong Nam high schools, as well as some schools in central Da Nang city and Ho Chi Minh City .

The 2008-2010 project aims to build a global system of at least 1,000 aligned schools to help teach and inspire young people about Germany.

Foreigners observe Buddhism’s strength in Vietnam

Many foreign Buddhist monks, nuns and believers in Vietnam for the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations say they have seen Buddhism in “deep practice” in the Asian country.

The Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya Sangha General Secretary Venerable Waragoda Pemaratana told a Vietnam News Agency reporter he has learnt a lot about Vietnamese Buddhism from the art and culture programmes held for Vesak celebrations.

“Buddhism is living here,” Venerable Waragoda Pemaratana said.

“If you haven’t got freedom of religion, this event would not have been held in your country.”

Malaysia ’s Chief High Priest Venerable Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero agreed and said he can see Vietnamese are free to follow Buddhism.

“There are a huge number of Vietnamese Buddhist followers here,” he said.

According to the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha statistics, there are 40,000 dignitaries, monks and nuns and more than 10 million Buddhist followers in Vietnam .

US Healing Springs Sangha follower Michael Devalve said he sees “the deep practice from everything”, not just from the facilities for Vesak celebrations but from its organisation and the government’s commitment to make the event successful.

The Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, also agreed and echoed the opinion Vietnamese people are free to practise religion.

He said this is seen through Sangha-organised training courses for monks and nuns, as well as for Buddhist followers.

The VBS’s statistics also show the country has 15,000 Buddhist places of worship, four Buddhist institutes, six colleges, 31 high schools and hundreds of primary schools for Buddhism training nationwide.

Some 200 monks and nuns have been trained abroad for PhD and master degrees in Buddhism, and thousands of graduates trained in local Buddhist institutes.

The Vesak celebrations are being held in Vietnam from May 14-17, attracting 3,500 delegates from 75 countries and territories the world over.

Toll-free helpline answers children’s worries

After four years of operation and over 250,000 calls recieved, the toll-free hotline 18001567 has proved a valuable assistance to children in difficult circumstances in Vietnam .

The child helpline, which operates from 7am to 9pm everyday, has helped thousands of children nationwide who were lost, uncared for, psychological hurt, maltreated, trafficked and sexually abused to access counseling and emergency services.

The hotline also provides information related to child violence and abuse and assistance to protect children’s rights.

The hotline hopes to expand its services by 2010 to provide around-the-clock assistance and support centres in at least 38 provinces and cities nationwide. Ho Chi Minh City and Danang city are the first two cities earmarked for the centres, which will be used for connection and intervention in child welfare matters.

Vice Head of the Child Care and Protection Department of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Dang Nam said children’s calls were usually related to issues of health, psychophysiology, friend and family relations, reproductive health, education, violence and abuse.

He was speaking at a ceremony held by the MoLISA in Hanoi on May 16 to mark the International Child Helpline Day (May 17), which is observed in many member countries of the organization, Child Helpline International (CHI).

Director of Plan Vietnam and co-organiser of the day Mark Taylor Pierce said he appreciated the work of the helpline in Vietnam and hoped international organisations would give more assistance to children in difficulties in the country.

It is the first year the International Child Helpline Day has been approved by the United Nations, said Pierce. The day acts as a call for care and attention for children in difficulties in each country and around the world.

Founded in 2003, CHI has developed a global network of hotlines in over 160 countries around the world. Vietnam became its 52nd member in 2004. 

(Source: VNA)