Children Celebrate First Birthday Party in Thanh Hoa

Text by Nguyen Thi Phuong
Photo by Le Xuan Luc

Birthday cakes finally arrived to needy children at a remote and mountainous village in the northern province of Thanh Hoa after it was transported over 25 km of slippery road in late 2012. More than 100 children, under the age of 15, enjoyed eagerly their first birthday party.

The children gathered together, sang birthday songs, flied balloons with their wishes, blew out candles and had birthday cakes in Nhu Xuan district. It is the first time that they have celebrated their birthday like what they saw on television.

“I am ten years old but this is the first time I have tasted a birthday cake,” said Le Van Tuan whose birthday coincides with the party’s day. “I’m very happy because this is the first time I have felt the joy of my birthday party.”

Organised by World Vision’s Nhu Xuan Area Development Programme, the birthday party aimed to raise the awareness of children and other community members about the significant meaning of birthday, the importance of birth certificate for every child and World Vision’s child wellbeing work.

"I am very touched when World Vision staff has arrived at this most remote village to organise our children’s birthday celebrations despite rains and difficult road,” shared Le Quang Luan, a father. “We will try our best to care for our children, especially their birthday celebration."

"This is also a favorable opportunity to educate parents to give more care and love to their children. I am so pleased to see our children enjoy their day happily,” added Le Thi Quyen, a local leader, who was in charge of organising the birthday party.

Nhu Xuan ADP will continue holding similar celebrations to 1,200 children in other 11 remote villages in 2013.