The Child Protection Project is one of the key components of the Ngo Quyen District Area Development Program, funded by World Vision. In the 2024 fiscal year, the goal of "protecting children from all forms of abuse and violence and involving them in decision-making processes" was advanced through a series of coordinated activities involving communities, families, and schools. The project's outcomes not only reaffirm the commitment to child protection but also lay a solid foundation for the comprehensive development of future generations.
Enhancing Knowledge and Skills for Child Protection
Equipping children with knowledge and self-protection skills is a central focus of the project. In 2024, the project organized four communication and skill-practice events on injury prevention, reaching over 5,000 primary and secondary school students. During these events, children learned to identify everyday risks such as fires, traffic accidents, and drowning, while being guided on effective response strategies. Skills such as self-defense against strangers, floating in water, and organizing hazardous objects at home helped children develop habits to protect themselves and their loved ones.
More importantly, these events went beyond merely conveying knowledge, focusing on practical exercises to help children apply learned skills in real-life situations. For example, simulation games involving dangerous scenarios allowed children to flexibly handle hypothetical situations. This not only boosted their confidence but also instilled a sense of responsibility for community safety. Gradually, children became active advocates, spreading the knowledge they acquired to their families and friends, creating a ripple effect in the community.
Promoting Children's Proactive Role
The project places special emphasis on encouraging children to actively participate in protecting themselves and their communities. In 2024, five child-initiated projects addressed critical issues such as sexual abuse prevention, school violence, and injury prevention. These projects provided over 4,500 children with self-protection skills while fostering confidence in expressing their ideas and taking action. Children learned to identify problems in their environment, present to an audience, and implement creative solutions, becoming "young leaders" in child protection.
During summer, swimming courses equipped 70 children with survival skills in water, with 58 achieving proficiency after 20 sessions. These courses not only boosted children’s confidence in water environments but also reduced the risk of drowning—a leading cause of child fatalities. Additionally, life skills camps provided 67 core members from 27 children's clubs with important skills such as abuse prevention, first aid, and public speaking. These children became active hubs, spreading knowledge and skills to their peers and the community.
Strengthening Community and Family Roles
Families and communities play a crucial role in child protection and development. The project organized four training sessions for 96 child protection officers and collaborators, enhancing their knowledge of intervention models, case management, and positive discipline methods. These sessions improved their capacity to effectively organize and implement child protection activities. Furthermore, 37 communication sessions on positive discipline attracted over 1,850 parents, raising awareness of positive interactions with children and conflict resolution within families.
Regular monthly home visits have become an effective tool for identifying and supporting children in difficult circumstances. Over the past year, 220 cases were addressed, including 35 urgent cases such as malnutrition, lack of birth certificates, or parents violating the law, all of which were promptly resolved. The close coordination between the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (LISA), the city’s Social Work Center, and local collaborators has ensured that every child receives appropriate and timely support.
Additionally, initiatives like playground renovations and the establishment of fire safety systems have not only improved facilities but also raised community awareness of child protection responsibilities. These efforts created safer living environments and fostered a sense of solidarity and collaboration among community members.
Improving Living and Community Environments – Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Development
A key highlight of the project lies in its initiatives to improve living environments, creating conditions for children to grow comprehensively in safe and healthy spaces. Six community initiatives, including playground renovations, on-site fire prevention systems, and equipping mobile cultural centers, were successfully implemented with contributions of both ideas and resources from the local community.
Specifically, the renovation of playgrounds in residential areas provided safe play spaces for more than 7,000 children and fostered stronger family bonds. It also gave children opportunities to develop physical fitness and social skills through outdoor activities. The installation of on-site fire prevention systems not only ensured safety for children and families but also raised community awareness about daily risk prevention. These improvements contributed to creating a safer living environment and reducing the risk of local accidents and injuries.
Additionally, mobile cultural centers were equipped with new tools and educational materials, becoming effective means to reach and educate children and families on self-protection skills. These initiatives did more than improve facilities—they also sparked a sense of responsibility within the community. Local residents, especially parents and caregivers, played vital roles in planning, implementing, and maintaining the initiatives, fostering long-term sustainability.
The success of these initiatives is not only reflected in material outcomes but also in changes in community awareness and habits. They have strengthened solidarity and cooperation among individuals, families, and organizations in the community. With a total budget of $6,000, the investment brought returns far beyond its cost, emphasizing the importance of mobilizing local resources and the power of consensus within the community.
These initiatives have become models for improving living environments in other areas, demonstrating that creating safe and healthy environments for children is not just the responsibility of one organization but a collective effort of society as a whole. They have promoted a spirit of responsibility and active participation in child protection, laying a solid foundation for the comprehensive development of future generations.
The "Building a Community for Children" project has yielded encouraging results, not only enhancing children’s self-protection skills but also promoting active involvement of families and communities in creating safe environments. Through close collaboration among stakeholders, the project has helped build a strong community where every child is protected, loved, and nurtured comprehensively. These achievements are a clear testament to the long-term commitment to sustainable development for future generations.