Listen to the voices and wishes of children

 In recent times, various departments, organizations, and localities in the province have organized numerous activities to listen to the voices of children, demonstrating a genuine desire to understand their thoughts and aspirations. These activities have become a bridge between the competent and children to have appropriate educational orientations, contributing to building a safe and healthy environment for the development of children.

The province's education and training sector is enhancing school psychology consulting activities to help children express their thoughts and aspirations.

 Listen to children talk

In recent years, the work of protecting, caring for, and educating children in the province has received the attention of Party committees and local authorities at all levels, along with the active participation of many agencies and organizations. At present, there are still several challenges and constraints in implementing children's rights, including ongoing cases of child abuse and violence. To facilitate children's expression of their opinions and desires, the Provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has instructed the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Offices of districts and cities to advise the People's Committees at the same level, as well as communes, wards, and towns, to organize "Children's Forums".

Recently, People's Committee of Bau Bang district held the Children's Forum 2024 with the theme "Children and children’s issues". 90 children representing more than 22,400 children in the entire district attended the forum.  The children had direct talks with leaders of professional agencies, departments, and district unions about implementing children's rights according to the law provisions. Besides, the children made more than 20 questions about academic issues, adolescent reproductive health, harmful effects of e-cigarettes, school violence...

Nguyen Ai Van, from Lai Uyen town shared: “I am delighted to participate in this forum. Here, we can openly discuss our questions and concerns regarding the rights and well-being of children. I hope that in the future there will be many meaningful programs like this so that children have more opportunities to speak up."

Nguyen Phu Cuong, Vice Chairman of Bau Bang District People's Committee, stated that the district organized this forum in the hope that children would speak up candidly, enabling agencies and departments to understand their thoughts, aspirations, and concerns. With friendliness and equality, representatives from relevant departments and organizations listened to and shared children's thoughts and aspirations, providing direct answers within their authority and responsibility.

Not only Bau Bang district, but recently, many localities from commune, ward, town, district, and city levels have simultaneously organized forums to listen to children with different topics, creating opportunities for children to express their opinions, views, and feelings.

Listen by using multiple channels

According to the report of Provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in the first 6 months of 2024, the department coordinated with other departments and unions in the province to organize many activities to listen to children, such as: program "People's Council delegates with spring for disadvantaged children" in 2024; the Provincial Youth Union organized knowledge and skills training programs for the Inter-HYPO Command and core children participating in programs promoting children's participation rights, attracting more than 1,500 children to participate. In addition, localities organized activities for children to interact and dialogue with People's Council delegates and local leaders at the same level...

The Provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also received information through the National Children Protection Hotline (111); directed local authorities and relevant sectors to verify and implement measures to ensure temporary safety for children in an emergency and develop plans to intervene and assist children promptly. Localities have also maintained regular activities of the interdisciplinary working group of districts and cities to refer and provide child protection services, such as: psychological and legal advice, medical care, intervention to help children go to school...

As someone who has many years of experience with school psychology consulting, Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Vice Principal of Hoa Phu Primary School (Thu Dau Mot City), believes that listening to what children say is the key to communication, helping adults understand children's thoughts and aspirations so that they can have appropriate educational orientations, contributing to building a safe and healthy environment for children's development. We must understand and listen to what children say so that we can understand their needs and help them develop most comprehensively.

Letting children speak their minds, regardless of the method, directly or indirectly, aims to build an environment for comprehensive development. To do this, the family, school, and society must cooperate by being ready and proactive in listening to what children say.

 Reported by Tue Nhi - Translated by Ngoc Huynh