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Consul General of the U.S. in Ho Chi Minh City Susan Burns addresses the event. |
The event was jointly organized by Catholic Relief Services (CRS)- an international humanitarian assistance organization, Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC); the municipal Department of Education and Training.
Present at the event were Consul General of the U.S. in Ho Chi Minh City Susan Burns; representatives of the CRS, the VNMAC, the People's Committee of Da Nang city, departments of education and training of Da Nang city, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and Thua Thien Hue provinces; a large number of cadres, teachers and students in Da Nang city.
The conference aimed to review and announce winners of the online contest "Raising awareness to prevent accidents of landmines and UXO left from the war" and the contest "School ambassadors in disseminating ways to prevent accidents caused by war-left UXO” launched for cadres, teachers and students of primary and secondary schools in Da Nang city.
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Teacher Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh (left) receives the first prize. |
The two contests were practical activities to raise awareness about the prevention of war-left UXO accidents, contributing to building a Vietnam which is no longer affected by landmines and UXO left from the war and serving socio-economic development.
According to the organizers, the online contest "Raising awareness to prevent accidents of landmines and UXO left from the war" drew the participation of 3,722 teachers, 41,758 students with 46 teachers and students awarded. Meanwhile, the "School ambassadors in disseminating ways to prevent accidents caused by war-left UXO” contest was held at 58 secondary schools in Da Nang city with 41 quality entries awarded.
The first prize winner of the online contest, teacher Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh from Hong Quang Primary School, Lien Chieu district, said that although the war ended nearly 50 years ago, people and children in Central Vietnam and Central Highlands have been heavily suffering from the explosions of landmines and warheads left in the ground.
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The event attracts a lot of students. |
The teacher stressed that children are the most vulnerable because of their curiosity when they find any UXO and consider them their new toys. Additionally, the fact that children run and play in areas contaminated with UXO puts them at very high risk of casualties. Therefore, the UXO prevention for children is a social and humanitarian activity holding profound educational and humanistic meanings and must receive due attention from each family, school and the whole society.
Truong Bao Chau, a third grader of Thanh Khe Heroic Primary School, winning a third prize of the contest shared experience in preventing UXO-related accidents. She surfed the internet to learn more about the harms and ways of prevention during playing and going on a picnic. The student also encouraged classmates to listen to parents and teachers to stay away from places that might have UXO to keep them safe.
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Prizes given to students with the best entries. |
Also at the event, delegates discussed and proposed effective solutions to protect the living environment for people and ensure the safety of children from the threat of war-left UXO.
In her speech, Consul General of the U.S. in Ho Chi Minh City Susan Burns sincerely thanked VNMAC, CRS in Vietnam and localities for actively supporting the U.S. in implementing mine action programs in Vietnam.
She expressed concern about the war-left UXO-related casualties that still happen to children. According to the diplomat, the most effective way to prevent this danger is to clean up war-left UXO-polluted areas and raise children’s awareness of staying away from areas with UXO.
Translated by Chung Anh