Vietnam Women’s Union Signs Cooperation Agreement to Support Holistic Development for Children

phunuvietnam.vn

On December 15, the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with INTRACO, the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation, and Diana Unicharm Joint Stock Company to implement activities promoting gender equality and addressing urgent needs of students at 248 boarding and semi-boarding primary and lower secondary schools located in 248 land border communes across Vietnam for the period 2026–2027.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen (fifth from the right), Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vice Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, along with leaders of the Vietnam Women’s Union and representatives from three partner companies, participated in the signing ceremony.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from central government agencies, including Mr. Vu Huy Van from the Office of the Party Central Committee and Mr. Pham Van Sinh, Deputy Director of the Planning and Finance Department of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Representing the Vietnam Women’s Union were Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and President of the Vietnam Women’s Union; Ms. Tran Lan Phuong, Standing Vice President; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vice President; and other leaders and officials of the Union.

Partner organizations participating in the signing included Mr. Hoang Anh Dung, Director of INTRACO; Ms. Tran Thi Nhu Trang, Chairwoman of the Management Council of the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation; and Ms. Phan My Le, Communications Manager of Diana Unicharm.

The initiative reflects the Vietnam Women’s Union’s ongoing efforts to connect with organizations and businesses to implement support activities in schools located in border areas, with the aim of promoting gender equality and addressing pressing challenges faced by students.

Promoting holistic development for children in remote and border areas

At the ceremony, Ms. Dang Huong Giang, Member of the Executive Committee and Deputy Head of the Women’s Affairs Department of the Vietnam Women’s Union, introduced the planned activities under the cooperation program.

From 2026 to 2027, the program will support 248 boarding and semi-boarding schools in border communes through initiatives aimed at improving students’ living conditions, raising awareness, and strengthening educational environments.

Key activities under the partnership include:

• Installing water purification stations to improve access to safe drinking water

• Designing and setting up “Girls’ Corners” at schools

• Organizing training sessions and communication activities to raise awareness on clean water, personal hygiene, reproductive health, sex education, child protection, school psychology, and prevention of gender-based violence.

The cooperation with the Foundation includes improving and renovating school facilities in 2026 and 2027 and organizing Training-of-Trainers (TOT) programs for school administrators, staff, teachers, and selected student representatives.

The training will focus on topics such as:

• Sex education and reproductive health care

• Child protection

• Gender and gender equality

Two training courses will be organized each quarter for schools participating in the program.

As part of the initiative, INTRACO will conduct surveys and support the construction of water purification stations for 10 schools that meet installation requirements and have demand for the system. These facilities aim to improve students’ living conditions and ensure access to safe drinking water in schools located in remote border communities.

Diana Unicharm will establish “Girls’ Corners” in 100 schools in 2026 and 148 schools in 2027. Each space will include shelves for essential supplies and educational materials, books on personal hygiene and reproductive health, puberty education resources, and emergency sanitary products for female students.

Representing the partner organizations, Ms. Tran Thi Nhu Trang, Chairwoman of the Management Council of the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation, highlighted that the Foundation has spent more than a decade implementing programs aimed at creating long-term social impact.

Through its partnership with the Vietnam Women’s Union, the Foundation has supported numerous social welfare programs benefiting women and children in disadvantaged areas, especially during natural disasters and public health emergencies.

The project is expected to improve school facilities, provide targeted training, and raise awareness among students and educators. In addition to physical improvements, the program aims to strengthen knowledge and capacity within schools, helping promote gender equality and inclusive education for students and their communities.

The signing of the MoU between the Vietnam Women’s Union and the three partner organizations marks an important step toward implementing practical support initiatives in border-area schools, contributing to the holistic development of children and addressing urgent needs faced by students in remote regions.