This year, Universal Children’s Day will continue to be celebrated all around the world on November 20th to honor children globally.

Although this day is a global observance and not a public holiday, in some areas UNICEF holds events to draw particular attention to children’s rights. These may be to stimulate interest in the media or to start nationwide campaigns which also work towards improving children’s welfare. Many schools and other educational institutions make a special effort to inform children of their rights according to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Teachers stimulate their pupils to think about the differences between themselves and others and explain the idea of “rights.” In countries where the rights of children are generally well-respected, teachers may draw attention to situations in countries where this is not the case.

With its vision “a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” HFH Vietnam assists low income households to acquire safe shelter through eliminating inadequate and substandard housing, and providing clean water and sanitation facilities to marginalized families, leading to over 9,900 families obtaining new, repaired or upgraded housing since 2001. Secure living brings to families and their children improved health and well-being, and creates opportunities for children to access education and develop themselves for their bright future. HFH Vietnam has supported 90 families who had lived and worked on a city dump site in Kien Giang moved into their own safe and permanent housing and also received scholarships for the children to go to school instead of working. For adults, vocational training was provided in local factories, shops and restaurants to enhance their livelihood choices, rather than relying on the dump site. Children no longer scavenged alongside adult family members. Families were also provided with legal assistance for obtaining legal identification. The Universal Children’s Day was first proclaimed in 1954 by the United Nations General Assembly, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children. "We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of humankind."

Source: Habitat for Humanity Vietnam website