By Ha Thu Chu | MSD Event and Communication Officer
Ho Chi Minh City – On September 27,2020,Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD), A New Life Page Group and Hoa Sen University implemented the workshop named "Give a child a new life page – Mid-autumn festival".
In the middle of theAugustof lunar calendar, streets are filled with the exciting, bustling atmosphere and vibrant colors duringthe Mid-Autumn Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival, commonly known as Children's Festival, is a special holiday for young children in Vietnam and some Asian countriesto enjoy the best time of the year. On this occasion, children enjoy traditional specialties, receive lucky gifts from adults and join countless interesting activities, such as cheerful lantern parade and lively lion dance,with their family and friends.
However, for disadvantaged children, it is not easy to have a happy and complete Mid-Autumn Festival in their lives. Participating in the Mid-Autumn Festival in neighborhood and schools is seeminglyimpossible for invisible children who, without birth certificates, cannot attend schools and get residence documents.They even cannot celebrate the holiday at home, as their parents don't have much money for such treats.
Understanding children’s difficulties, Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD), A New Life Page Group and Hoa Sen University implemented the workshop named "Give a child a new life page – Mid-autumn festival", aiming to organize a happyand memorable Mid-Autumn Festival for disadvantaged children in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as raise awareness and promote the right to birth registration ofevery child. The festival attracts a number of participants, including more than 150 children in local shelters andsocial welfare institutions, families who are beneficiaries of A New Life Pageproject, Rapper Wowy Nguyen and his team of contestants in Rap Viet, members of A New Life Pagegroup and students at Hoa Sen University.
In the opening remark, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Linh,Director of MSD,shares: “Children have the right to get birth certificates, to enroll schools, to play, to dream for a better life and to develop comprehensively. “Give a child a new life page”campaignis implemented by MSD and A New Life Pagegroup to give marginalized children a passport to a new life and the fundamental rights they deserve. We hopesthat the eventtoday will be an opportunity for unfortunate children to join fun activities in the Mid-Autumn Festival, and more importantly, encourage them to overcome difficulties, help them obtain birth certificates, access to education and essential healthcare and realize their dreams.MSD and A New Life Pagegroup are committed to accompanying families and sheltersto support children in difficult circumstances. We hope that donors will accompany our journey to open up a new future for invisible children.”
At Hoa Sen University, besides better understanding of the importance of birth certificates, children also engage in Mid-Autumn Festival's activities such as watching lion dance, making paper lanterns, decorating shirts about their own dreams and participating in folk games and quizzes. In particular, children are very excited to write "Letters to the Future" to express their dreams and desires for a bright future.
The Mid-Autumn Festival also welcomes special guests, which are Rapper Wowy, who went throughhardshipsand became one of the most successful and famous rappers in Vietnam, and the contestants of Wowy team in Rap Viet, a viral TV show currently. As soon as the guests appeared, children are extremely excited to interact with the guests and feature in their freestyle performances.
As a supporterof the “Give a child a new life page” campaign, Rapper Wowy shares: “Thanks MSD for having me today. I am really happy to be here and bring a meaningful day forunfortunate children. They deserve to have their inherent rights and receive the warmth of my heart and those who care about their future. ”
8 year-old T.A shares: “I just received my birth certificate on the day before. My mom said that I can attend school next year. Other friends in my neighborhood have gone to school, but me. Now I finally can enroll school, I'm very happy. Today I’m really excited to join the Mid-autumn festival. I drew a very beautiful shirt for my mom. I also met my idol Wowy, I hope I would be like him in the future."
By Ha Thu Chu | MSD Event and Communication Officer
By Thu Ha Chu | MSD Event and Communication Officer
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