The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the United Nations Volunteer Program have launched the National Volunteer Awards to honor volunteers for their outstanding contributions to society and country. The award program was launched yesterday in Hanoi in a ceremony held by the two agencies. The program will be conducted from this month until December and five prizes – worth VND10 million (US$480) each – will be given to the most outstanding candidates as organizations, and five more prizes – VND5 million each – will be awarded to candidates as individuals. In addition, the organizers will give a number of sub-prizes to volunteers. Organizations can be local or foreign agencies, organizations or clubs; and individuals can be local or foreign people of 15 years old upwards.

Candidates should visit the program's website at www.giaithuongtinhnguyen.vn for futher information. Profiles of candidates should be sent to the organizers before October 20. The awards will be handed to distributed to winners at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 4, to mark International Volunteer Day (December 5) and also to welcome the 10th National Congress of Communist Youth Union. Along with the event, the organizing board will also conduct many other activities, including launching a forum “Voice of Volunteers” and debuting a network of volunteer organizations in Central and South Vietnam. Phan Van Mai, Standing Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said it is a strong political commitment of the Union to develop volunteer campaigns or movements to help deal with national and international issues.