20 November 2003

Ha Noi, Viet Nam: Ms. Rose Marie Greve, Director of the International Labour Office (ILO), on behalf of the United Nations in Viet Nam, presented the second annual UN Volunteers Honorary Ambassador awards to 10 outstanding students of Hoa Sua Vocational Training School for Disadvantaged Youth School in Linh Nam, Thanh Tri, Ha Noi.

The annual award promotes academic excellence and was personally initiated by UNV Honorary Ambassador Takehito Nakata when he visited the School in August, 2002. “My humble contribution to these awards is one way to encourage these young people to study and work hard for a better life, and push poverty a step behind” Ambassador Nakata said.

Hoa Sua was established in April 1995 by a group of retired teachers. The school provides vocational training opportunities in Asian and European cooking, catering, patisserie, baking, restaurant service, industrial sewing and small business management for disadvantaged youth in Hanoi. Over the past 8 years, more than 1100 graduates have been placed in full time positions with businesses throughout the city. The programme has been expanded to schools in other communities, including Sa Pa and has started to take on students from youth centres throughout the country.

At the ceremony Ms Greve said, “We very much appreciate the vision and generosity of Ambassador Nakata for initiating these awards to recognize the contribution of the school management, teachers, and volunteers who are committed to the disadvantaged youth’s training and employment. The effort of the students who have overcome very difficult circumstances is very impressive”.

Last month, UN Volunteers in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the Office of the National Coordinating Council on Disability held a workshop to discuss links between volunteerism, vocational training and employment for disadvantaged youth with Hoa Sua school officials. Participants from Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia discussed experiences, lessons learned and how best practices could be applied in similar projects.

The UN Volunteers (UNV) programme in Viet Nam has actively supported Hoa Sua School over the past five years. The project has placed seven UNVs to assist school management in adopting new administrative practices, a new training curriculum, evaluation systems and the establishment of a multi-support network. The school’s management has also been further strengthened through specialized assignments under the UNV-administered Corporate/Private Sector Volunteers in financial management and marketing.