Children can also be change-makers
“I want all Vietnamese children to be equipped with basic life skills and knowledge to protect themselves from human trafficking,” Huynh Thanh Minh said confidently when interviewed by a National TV channel at the 4th ASEAN Children Forum held in Hanoi late June with the theme “one ASEAN, one Vision”.
Being among 35 child delegates from eight ASEAN member countries who came to raise their voice on issues that threaten children’s safety, Minh, 16, from a remote village in Quang Nam province, had the chance to propose his recommendations to government officials in the Southeast Asia region.
Through the recommendations, he hopes that governments will pay more attention to raising children’s awareness of the risks of trafficking and building a safe environment in which children can live, learn, and thrive.
Minh enthusiastically takes part in the group discussion in preparation for the dialogue with high-ranking leaders in ASEAN. Minh enthusiastically takes part in the group discussion in preparation for the dialogue with high-ranking leaders in ASEAN.
“It is rewarding to remember how Minh was a few years ago and watch him act so confident today, talking with his peers from other countries and speaking up in front of ASEAN country leaders,” said Le Dinh Khuong Duy, World Vision’s programme coordinator in Nong Son district, Quang Nam province.
The group is performing a play that they wrote themselves to illustrate the issue of human trafficking and put forward their recommendations for solutions.
Five years ago, Minh, a World Vision’s sponsored child, first joined a children club where he learnt practical life skills, including self-protection from human trafficking.
“My face turned red when I talked to people. I was always shy,” recalls Minh.
The “shy boy” is now a children's club leader in his village. Often he burns the midnight oil not only doing homework but also preparing “lectures” for the club.
“I write play scripts, make presentations and video clips. I organize fun activities and performances. I applied all the skills I was taught in the first children's club,” says Minh.
“I left my original children's club when I entered high school and started up another club with support from World Vision and local authority in my village. Many of my friends travel for work in summer without understanding the risks that await such as exploitation and trafficking for organ removal,” says Minh.
Appreciating Minh’s talent and passion, local authorities invited him to speak and facilitate many communication events at the district level. Minh is able to talk in front of hundreds of attendants, most of whom are very young and want to travel to other cities for work.
World Vision is now running 18 children clubs in Nong Son, focusing on building life skills, raising awareness of human trafficking and safe migration among local children and youth.
Photos and editing by Pham Thu Trang, World Vision Vietnam Communications officer