The Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) has connected 1,458 children orphaned by COVID-19 with benefactors via a program over the last five months, Truong Thi Thu Thuy, head of the Family and Social Affairs Department at the VWU Central Committee, told a press conference on Tuesday.

The beneficiaries in the ‘Me Do Dau’ (‘Godmothers’) program were children who lost their parents to COVID-19 and those who are experiencing difficulties for other reasons.

“The target of the program is not how much money is raised for the children, but finding them benefactors in a direct or indirect way,” Thuy said.

“We’ve also connected other local supporters to provide mental healthcare for children with daily life problems and vocational training in accordance with their wishes. 

“Over the past five months, 1,458 children have been connected to their benefactors. 

“There are cases where the benefactors living in the U.S. met their children online."

Other charity programs organized by the VWU in north-central Thanh Hoa Province, southern Dong Thap Province, Can Tho City, and Ho Chi Minh City have also spread widely in the public.

At Tuesday’s press conference, vice-president of the VWU Central Committee Nguyen Thi Minh Huong also announced the organization of the 13th National Women’s Congress from March 9 to 13 in Hanoi.

The congress is expected to attract 1,000 delegates representing Vietnamese women from different social classes, ethnic groups, religions and sectors, along with about 200 guests.

Various activities will be held within the event’s framework, including a photo exhibition, a texting campaign to raise funds to support at least 130 welfare programs worth VND13 billion (US$569,400) for women in border areas, and a dialogue on gender equality and women empowerment.

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