Hanoi (VNA) – The firstfootball tournament for disadvantaged children nationwide is set to take placein 2019, heard a press briefing in Hanoi on December 26.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and SocialAffairs (MoLISA), the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC), theMinistry of Education and Training, and the Vietnam Football Federation willco-organise the event.

The tournament is expected to see the participationof 60 teams, said MoLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha.

Ha affirmed that the Party and State alwayspay special attention to the care, protection and education of children,especially those who live in disadvantaged areas.

Meanwhile, the 12th edition of a programme “Muaxuan cho em” (Spring for Children) will be held on January 6 next year,announced NFVC Director Hoang Van Tien.

Organisations and individuals who haveprovided support for disadvantaged children in 2018 will also be honoured atthe event.

After 11 years, the programme has raisedhundreds of billions of VND to support needy children across the country.

During its 26 years of operation, the NFVChas mobilised nearly 6.5 trillion VND (279 million USD) to assist more than 30million disadvantaged children nationwide.-VNA