Football Day held for disadvantaged children in Ho Chi Minh City

Former MU players David May, Danis Irwin and Vietnamese children. Photo: UNICEF

The Football Day was co-held by the Social Work Center for Children and UNICEF, with support of Manchester United, aiming to promote positive values; provide disadvantaged children with soft skills and fundamental social skills. Via these activities, the organizations would help them keep away from being abuse and from violating law.

In 2014, Manchester United helped the Center open two football clubs for these children. These clubs were directly connected to a children protection system, supported by UNICEF in District 1 and Binh Thanh District.

John Shiels, Chief Executive Officer of the Manchester United Fund and coaches from program Street Reds, in 2015, trained social staff and football coaches for disadvantaged children, in Ho Chi Minh City.

These two clubs opened twice a month in District 1 and Binh Thanh District. At first, there were just 80 children taking part in the clubs and then reached to 120 participants.

The Social Work Center for Children also extended this program in other centers with the hope that this program would help all disadvantaged children in the city.

Manchester United supported UNICEF in Vietnam in implementing children protection activities.

In addition, the program also trained 160 managing officers on recognizing disadvantaged children and 400 officers on children protection.

Translated by Minh Anh