The International SOS Children’s Villages (SCV) has to date provided more than $80 million in aid to build SOS children’s villages in Vietnam, state media reported. The information was released at a meeting between Vietnamese State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan with the President of the International SCV, Helmut Kutin, in Hanoi on Jan 3. The funding has helped 14 provinces and cities in Vietnam build such villages to take care of orphans and abandoned children in a family-like environment. Doan thanked the organization for supporting Vietnam over the past 24 years, hoping that it will continue assisting Vietnam in the next years, especially in building the two villages in the northern province of Thai Binh and the central highlands province of Gia Lai. The Vice President said that Vietnam has made significant progress in caring for children over the past years, and it knows that children are its future masters. Doan emphasized the Vietnamese government has always joined hands with international organizations like the International SOS Children’s Villages, to improve the efficiency of charitable activities. In turn, Helmut Kutin expressed delight at the effective cooperation between the International SCV and the Vietnamese government to help disadvantaged children across the country. He also affirmed that his organization will continue to cooperate with and support Vietnam in the future. Set up in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages is active in 133 countries and territories worldwide. The variety of this international work is brought together by the umbrella organization SOS Children’s Villages International, which unites all of the autonomous national associations. (Sai Gon Giai Phong –Saigon Liberation Jan 4, vov.vn Jan 3)
