Following the direction of the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) Central Committee, the Hoa Binh provincial Women's Union has proactively and extensively implemented the "Godmother" programme with various practical and creative solutions to support and care for children who become orphans due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other causes. As many as 448 children have received both material and spiritual assistance in the 2021–2025 period.


The Women's Union chapter of Ma 1 hamlet, Bac Phong commune (Cao Phong district), adopts a child with severe disabilities of a member in an especially difficult circumstance. Photo: Union cadres visit and present gifts to offer encouragement to the family. 

To implement the programme, the unions at all levels have coordinated with sectors and local authorities to review and verify the list of orphans across the province. There are 3,140 orphans in Hoa Binh at present, including 97 children who have lost both parents and 14 orphaned in the pandemic. The provincial Women's Union has closely coordinated with Party committees and administrations at all levels in directing the programme implementation, issuing coordination documents, and updating the list of children who are sponsored or no longer sponsored when they turn 18. 

Notably, at the 17th provincial Party Committee’s 12th session in July 2023, provincial Party leaders and officials of departments and sectors donated over 200 million VND (7,660 USD) to the programme, which encouraged the whole society's engagement in the work. 

Thanks to the widespread participation, 448 orphans with special disadvantages in Hoa Binh are being sponsored, including 14 orphaned due to COVID-19, with support totalling over 2 billion VND both in cash and in kind. Under the "Godmother - Spreading Love" programme, the provincial Women's Union alone has raised more than 1.14 billion VND to assist 34 children until they reach the age of 18. 

On the occasion of Lunar New Year 2025, the provincial Women's Union coordinated with the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee to visit and present gifts worth 271.6 million VND in total to 95 orphans. 

Along with support, dissemination efforts have also been promoted. The unions at all levels have organised hundreds of conferences, activities, and meetings to convey the programme's humanistic significance to women's union officials and members, as well as local communities. 

Kha Thi Luan, Vice President in charge of the provincial Women's Union, said that the "Godmother" initiative is a vivid demonstration of the spirit of mutual love and solidarity, helping promote the strength of community unity. Although the material gifts are small, they are a great source of spiritual encouragement, giving orphans more determination in life. The union always work to accompany them for a long time and provide comprehensive care so that they not only receive support but also gain opportunities to develop comprehensively and become useful persons for society.

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