New Life Page for "Invisible" Children - Vietnam

It seems that joy is multiplied when H.T.D and their family receive a birth certificate for their child right on International Children’s Day. Before coming to H, (D’s father), D’s mother, named N. was previously married and have two children. Her former husband passed away, and she raised her two grown children on her own. After her children found stable jobs, she met and had a relationship with  H. At that time, she wanted to remarry, but her children disagreed. They held onto the household registration book, father’s death certificate, and other documents, preventing their mother from registering for marriage. Consequently, when D was born, the couple did not have a marriage certificate, and they couldn’t register the birth for D.

D’s parents went to the local authorities to apply for D’s birth registration. Despite multiple instructions, the family still didn’t know how to proceed. Their circumstances were difficult. Father D used to work as a construction assistant, but lately, his health has declined. He experiences dizziness and blurred vision (unable to afford medical examinations, so he self-diagnosed with high blood pressure or anemia). As a result, his employer allowed him to stop working. D’s mother works as a cook in a restaurant, earning a low and unstable income. She also suffers from diabetes, and her vision has become unclear recently.

Without a birth certificate and unable to register permanent or temporary residence, combined with their financial difficulties, D is currently attending a charity school. In September 2023, through the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Social Work Education & Vocational Training for Youth, MSD United Way Vietnam provided support for this case. Under the A New Life Page project,  a DNA testing was implemented for D and his father to prove the father and son relation. When the test results came back positive, the family was overjoyed. D thought he now had a birth certificate and proudly shared the news around his lodging area. However, the journey continued as social workers had to assist the family in working with local authorities to update additional documents according to legal requirements. These documents included the mother’s single status certificate and court decisions regarding the child’s relationship with the parents."

And then…, after 9 months of being supported until May 30, 2024, the family was very happy because, after a difficult time, D finally obtained a birth certificate. This is like the most significant and meaningful gift for D, right on International Children’s Day, June 1st.

With the birth certificate in hand, D will receive an identification code, be officially registered, and have access to health insurance. This marks a turning point, a fresh and beautiful new page for D’s future ahead. The first exciting chapters of D’s young life are now officially unfolding, offering wide-open opportunities to build a bright and promising path.

Ho Chi Minh City, January 20, 2024 - 100 children from 8 shelters, compassionate schools, and families in difficult circumstances in Ho Chi Minh City participated in the event "If There Were One Wish" organized by the Institute for Sustainable Development Management Research (MSD) and MSD United Way Vietnam.

The "If There Were One Wish" event is part of the annual communication and fundraising campaign of the "New Page of Life" project, implemented by the Institute for Sustainable Development Management Research (MSD) - United Way Vietnam. The event aims to create an inspirational space and call for collective support to help realize the dreams of every child, especially those without birth certificates and children in difficult circumstances supported by MSD.

During the event, MSD United Way Vietnam awarded 03 birth certificates to 03 children in difficult circumstances who were supported by the "New Page of Life" project to obtain birth certificates in the past year, marking a new milestone to help them obtain their "passport into life." With these birth certificates, they will no longer be invisible shadows in society but will become official citizens entitled to basic rights, especially the right to education, to attend school - thus enabling them to pursue their dreams. Following that, program ambassadors distributed 100 Tet gifts to help the children and their families have a complete Tet holiday, bringing joy and encouragement to them, with the hope of providing them with additional motivation to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams.

Here are some impressive statistics from the campaign:

Number of participants: Over 200, including 100 children in difficult circumstances from 8 shelters/schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

Total funds raised: 501,753,070 VND, including goods and cash.

Remaining funds: 182,082,878 VND, to be used for activities supporting birth registration, education, nutrition, and healthcare for children in need under the "New Page of Life" project.

Coverage: Over 20 media outlets and KOLs reported on and shared the campaign.

For detailed information, please see the attached file

The fundraising campaign "If There Were One Wish" officially concludes with much love from everyone, but the journey to open "New Pages of Life" for children in need continues. Please continue to follow and support MSD United Way Vietnam on this journey!

#MSDUnitedWayVietnam #MSDVietnam #NewPageofLife #IfThereWereOneWish

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New Page of Life - A project aimed at promoting the rights to birth registration and other basic rights such as education, nutrition, and healthcare for children and adolescents in difficult circumstances.

Links:

• Report Campaign "If I Had a Wish"