Australian Ambassador presents Tet gifts to students with disabilities in Soc Son District, Hanoi
Australian Ambassador HE Mr Hugh Borrowman presented hot and cold water dispensers to the School for Children with Disabilities in Soc Son District, Hanoi, as well as Tet gifts to the students.
Established in 2000 by Soc Son District’s People Committee, the School for Children with Disabilities has 90 students from 6-18 years old who live with disabilities such as hearing and speech impairments, mobility problems, autism, Down Syndrome and the effects of agent orange. Funding shortages unfortunately mean the school struggles to maintain and improve its facilities. The school previously had only 2 hot and cold water dispensers for the 90 children, which made it difficult to provide enough hot water for the students.
“Hanoi has been experiencing very cold weather, and we hope that having hot water will help keep the students warm”, said the Ambassador. “I also enjoyed meeting the students and sharing this special time with them in the lead-up to Tet.”
“A Vietnamese saying goes ‘A piece while hungry is worth a package when full’, said Ms Luong Thu Huong, the school principal. “I would like to use this idiom to thank the Australian Ambassador and Government for these timely and meaningful gifts.”
Strengthening disability-inclusive development is a priority in Australia’s aid program. The gifts for the School for Children with Disabilities were funded by the Australian Government’s Direct Aid Program in Vietnam.