Equipping children with skills for early life

With the sense of equipping poor children, earning a living on the streets, Binh Duong has established a network of "Children with HIV / AIDS" clubs in communes, wards and hamlets. Activities of clubs have brought about practical effects, contributing to reducing the rate of HIV / AIDS transmission in the community.

 From typical club

We had the opportunity to visit the club "Children with HIV / AIDS" in An Phu ward, TX. Thuan An in the afternoon with heavy rain. Although it was raining, the club still lived on time, ensuring content and programs. Monthly, one-time club with the content of knowledge about HIV / AIDS, self-protection to prevent HIV infection, counseling life skills for children, activities and organizations folk games.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, a member of the club, said: “Every month, the club always innovates the content of activities to propagate and educate the children about HIV / AIDS prevention and life skills, skills to protect themselves against HIV / AIDS risks. In addition to propaganda, here they also have fun, learn knowledge about HIV / AIDS, how to prevent HIV / AIDS infection, sex education, reproductive health and life skills ”. From this activity, this campaign has helped them understand the gender relations, reproductive health, and physiological mind of the ages and have the right decisions in the event of life.

Many students participate in the painting competition on HIV / AIDS in the province

With the meaning of loving connection, the club has become a friendly address for many underprivileged children. Mr. Quan Van Binh, Chairman of An Phu Ward People's Committee, said: “Over the past years, along with the economic development, An Phu ward has a large number of street children and young people selling lottery tickets by family. Family for a living. With the meaning of equipping students with life skills, An Phu Ward advocates the establishment of a club "Children with HIV / AIDS". The board of directors of the clubs includes children, Youth Union and children collaborators. In addition to organizing for children to have fun, talk about seminars, competitions so that they can equip them with prevention and avoidance skills, HIV / AIDS prevention ”.

Attract children to participate

Being a province with fast economic development, in recent years, Binh Duong has attracted many laborers from other provinces and cities to make a living, leading to a growing number of street children. Children who live wandering, lack the protection and care of their relatives lead to many consequences such as: They can be easily exploited by bad guys, dragging into social evils. Sympathizing with the situation of poor children, making a living on the street, the province has set up 40 clubs "Children with HIV / AIDS prevention" with 1,200 children of migrant workers, children with risk of being affected by HIV / AIDS.

In Thu Dau Mot City, established a club since the beginning of 2013, currently there are 10 active clubs in the area. Ms. Doan Thi Thu Hong, Head of the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Department of Thu Dau Mot City, said: “Clubs established in 4 wards with many disadvantaged children have to live early, including: Hiep An, Phu Loi, Chanh Nghia, Phu Tho. More than 300 children aged between 8 and under 16 who are participating in clubs are orphans, children of poor and wandering families, and selling lottery tickets. Activities of the club attract many children at risk of being affected by HIV / AIDS to participate in activities ”.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong, Head of the Department for Protection, Care of Children and Gender Equality, Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, said that in order to equip life skills for children in early life, Binh Duong Chuong set up a system of "Children with HIV / AIDS" clubs. Activities of the club have helped them have the opportunity to update information, learn and exchange experiences to foster the dream of rising in life, training life skills, protecting themselves and creating motivation. , promoting the participation of children in propaganda, prevention of abuse, abuse, injury and HIV / AIDS, preventing stigma and discrimination against children and people infected with HIV / AIDS ".

Now, although still living on the streets, poor and wandering children and their families are more reassured because they know how to protect themselves.

Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Vi Bao