Over 34 billion VND raised for soldiers, officers and people living in border and island areas

The fund will be used for different activities, including visiting troops and people living, working in border areas, at seas, and on islands; presenting gifts and providing free medicines and health check-ups for disadvantaged people in border areas.

The fund's objectives are to propagate and mobilise the people at home and abroad to look towards the sea and islands of Vietnam; raise awareness of all levels, branches, localities and people about positions and roles of the sea and islands in the cause of national construction and defence; mobilise all resources, bring into play the synergy of the entire political system and social community to participate in the task of building and protecting sovereignty over seas and islands; propagate and mobilise domestic and foreign agencies, organisations and individuals to voluntarily provide material and financial support, step by step improve the material and spiritual life of the army and people operating in the seas and islands of the country.

In her opening remarks, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City To Thi Bich Chau highlighted the significance of the programme, expressing her thanks to organisations, individuals, enterprises, Vietnamese expats and donors for their assistance for the fund over the last eight years.

All the donations will be used to carry out specific tasks and projects in 2021 such as communications to raise public awareness on the national sea and island sovereignty, and support for soldiers and officers who are on their duty in, and people living in border and island areas, among others.

In 2021, the fund will provide medical equipment to a health station in Nam Yet island, help repair Song Tu Tay primary School in Song Tu Tay island, maintain and the base of the DK1/10 platform in Navy Region 2, and build a cultural house on Thuyen Chai A island, and carry out a project on fresh water supply in border areas.

HCM City’s fund alone has raised over 41 billion VND so far this year, which have been spent on a series of activities, including helping officers, soldiers and people in border and island areas.

On the occasion of the art exchange programme co-organised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City and the municipal television station HTV, outstanding individuals with significant contributions to the fund and those who have made great effort to sea and island areas, were honoured.

Mai Nguyen