Hanoi, 15th September 2021 – Youth-led initiatives on job replacement, income generation, life skills and provision of sexual and reproductive health knowledge for young international migrant workers who returned to Viet Nam due to COVID-19 will be implemented in Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri provinces by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, with technical support of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funds from the Government of Japan.
The signing ceremony was held online in Hanoi today by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in collaboration with UNFPA Viet Nam, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Provincial Youth Unions of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri.
Supporting young returning migrant workers is one of the most important components of the UNFPA Project "Mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable population groups - Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs in Viet Nam", which is funded by the Government of Japan. The project focuses on 4 main issues: (1) Gender-based violence; (2) Quality care for older people; (3) Sexual and reproductive health; and (4) Support to young returning international migrant workers in 14 provinces suffering from negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Viet Nam is one of the countries which have been experiencing severe socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, and young people are among the most vulnerable population groups. Young international migrant workers from the three provinces of Quang Tri, Nghe An and Ha Tinh are facing harder impacts because of the sudden changes in working conditions. Many of them had to return to Viet Nam due to the pandemic, and when they are in their homeland, they have faced difficulties to be reintegrated into the local market conditions.
In order to support these young returning migrant workers, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union has assigned its Center for Youth and Adolescents to collaborate with the provincial Youth Unions of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri to implement 29 youth-led initiatives. With a total fund of over VND 2 billion, these initiatives will help provide the young returning migrant workers with job replacement, income generation, life skills and sexual and reproductive health knowledge from now until the end of March 2022.
Speaking at the signing ceremony today, Mr. Ngo Van Cuong, the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, emphasized the importance of supporting young international migrant workers who returned home due to the COVID-19. He said: “The Secretariat of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union will instruct the Vietnam Youth Union’s relevant Departments to closely collaborate with the provincial Youth Unions of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri to facilitate the implementation of the initiatives on job replacement and income generation, thus helping the returning migrant workers to settle down well. For the initiatives’ beneficiaries, I encourage young people to believe in themselves, work hard, learn as much as possible, and try to apply advanced knowledge and technologies in implementing the activities of these creative initiatives. I trust that you will soon overcome the difficulties and at the same time inspire your peers to follow suit.”
In her opening remarks, Ms. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Viet Nam highly appreciated the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s efforts to contribute to mitigating the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Naomi Kitahara affirmed: “The risk of COVID-19 to adolescents and youth is often under-estimated. Yes, young people may have a stronger immune system against COVID-19, but it does not necessarily mean that they are not affected by the impact of COVID-19. It is important to recognize that young people have been confronted with multiple shocks including a disruption to education and employment, income loss, greater difficulties in finding a job, and accessing health and other public services. Young international migrant workers are one of the hardest hit. Therefore, UNFPA commits to working closely with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in UNFPA’s project: “Mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable population groups – Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs in Viet Nam”, funded by the Government of Japan.”
Attending the signing ceremony virtually, Mr. Daisuke Okabe, Minister of the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam, said: “The Government of Japan is honored to be able to support these initiatives which contribute to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals’ philosophy of ‘leave no one behind’.” He expressed Japan’s appreciation to the Viet Nam Youth Union and UNFPA for organizing the youth-led initiative, and assured Japan’s full support for mitigating the negative impact of COVID-19 in Viet Nam.
The youth-led initiative substantially contributes to building back better for Vietnam’s sustainable development process, leaving no one behind.
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For more information, contact:
Ms Dinh Thu Huong| UNFPA Communication Officer
Email: dhuong@unfpa.org| Phone number: 0913 301 539
Ms Doan Thi Thuy| Communication and Project Management Department, The Center for Youth and Adolescents
Email: dthuy2595@gmail.com | Phone number: 0869056555.
