Huỳnh Nguyễn Thanh Sang (middle) with his foster mothers. — Photo conganthanhoa.gov.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Foster Mother Programme, launched by the Vietnam Women's Union in October 2021, has changed the lives of thousands of needy children and orphans across the country.

Huỳnh Nguyễn Thanh Sang was an orphan in Dân Lực Commune, Triệu Sơn District, Thanh Hóa Province. He lived with his grandparents for 13 years before they fell seriously ill a few years ago.

Their declining health deeply saddened him as he feared they might not be able to provide for him much longer. He was too young to find a job to feed himself.

His neighbours could see the sadness on his face, but they could do nothing to help him. He gradually developed an introverted personality and became a solitary child.

Everything changed in 2022 when female officers in the Women's Union at the Investigation Office of Thanh Hóa Police stepped in to offer support and care for him.

The "foster mothers" provided him with clothes, books and financial aid of VNĐ8 million (US$324) per year to cover his living expenses.

With the financial anxiety eased, he has become more communicative and cheerful and has begun to achieve excellent results in school.

He was awarded the certificate of excellence for his academic performance in the 2022-2023 school year and recognised as one of the 10 best seventh-grade students one year later.

"The support from the foster mothers has fueled my determination to excel and ignited hope for a brighter future"

"I will follow in their footsteps and join the police one day," said Sang.

Nguyễn Quỳnh Trang, Deputy Chairwoman of the Women's Union at the Police Investigation Agency of Thanh Hóa Province, said she and her colleagues felt for the struggle Sang had been through and would always be by his side to help him overcome it.

"We are committed to raising him into a useful citizen in the society," said Trang.

Trần Bảo Linh is a 12-year-old student with a congenital condition called brittle bone disease in Thọ Xuân Town, Thọ Xuân District, Thanh Hóa Province. When she was born, her father left home and never returned, leaving her mother to raise her alone.

With her mother succumbing to a severe illness four years ago, her grandparents shouldered the responsibility to look after her. They ran a small roadside repair shop to cover daily expenses and medicines for Linh but barely made ends meet.

Her life turned around in 2022 when she was fostered by the female officers of the Women's Union at the Staff Office of Thanh Hóa Police.

The foster mothers provide her with monthly aid of VNĐ500,000 ($20) and send household items, clothes, and gifts to her and her grandparents on special occasions.

They also visit Linh regularly to give her words of encouragement and help her ease the longing for her deceased mother.

Trần Công Đại, Linh's 78-year-old grandfather, expressed his gratitude to the Woman's Union for the changes they had brought to his family.

"We were worried about our future but we are so no more thanks to the wholehearted support of the female officers in Thanh Hóa Police," said Đại.

By November 2023, the Foster Mother Programme has raised nearly VNĐ150 billion ($6.1 million) to support 27,670 orphans and needy children across the country, including 3,000 children orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In many localities, 100 per cent of COVID-orphaned children have been fostered under the programme. — VNS