Outstanding youth activities in 2020

Last year the Vietnamese youth carried out a range of practical activities that helped boost the youth movement nationwide and actively contributed to the nation’s socio-economic development.

Delegates attending the 6th national congress of outstanding youth following Uncle Ho’s teaching pose for a group photo in Nghe An Province. (Photo: NDO/Linh Phan)
Delegates attending the 6th national congress of outstanding youth following Uncle Ho’s teaching pose for a group photo in Nghe An Province. (Photo: NDO/Linh Phan)

In its review of its operation in 2020, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union announced 14 typical events and activities in the youth movement nationwide last year.

The 6th National Congress of Outstanding Youth Following Uncle Ho’s Teaching 2020 took place from May 30 to 31 in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, with the participation of 401 delegates, who recorded outstanding results in the study and following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style, as well as actively participating in social activities of substance and influence among Youth Union members.

Under the theme "Pride in the tradition of Vietnamese students", during a series of events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Students and the Vietnamese Students’ Association (January 9, 1950-2020), the association was honoured with the First-Class Independence Order for the second time, while over 360 individuals were also awarded outstanding titles from the association.

During the campaign commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Vietnamese Youth Volunteers Force, the Youth Union awarded those former youth volunteers and their children in difficult circumstances 21 houses worth more than VND1.25 billion, 90 savings books worth VND310 million and 700 gifts worth VND840 million. Also during the campaign, the Vietnam Former Youth Volunteers’ Association coordinated with related units to award thousands of gifts and savings books with a total value of over VND 12.3 billion to former youth volunteers and their children.

In 2020, the "I love my country" journey continued to be effectively implemented by the Youth Union, becoming a highlight of the activities of recognition by youngsters toward their predecessors, spreading patriotism amongst the young and encouraging them to perfect themselves to serve the Fatherland and the people.

An online dialogue between the First Secretary of the Central Youth Union and the Youth Union members attracted 6.4 million hits on social networks (a 344% increase compared to the 2019 programme). Through more than 800 questions sent to the leader of Vietnamese youngsters, the dialogue helped promote youth aspirations and visions and their dedication to the country.

An online contest to learn about the Communist Party of Vietnam was held for the first time and attracted nearly 700,000 contestants from across the country, making it the first with the such a large number of contestants organised by the Youth Union so far.

Along with that, the "Uncle Ho with the Children – the Children with Uncle Ho" contest was one of the important activities to celebrate the 130th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, receiving nearly 4.5 million entries. The Organising Committee awarded 240 weekly awards and 60 final prizes to the top contestants.

Last year, the two programmes on "Sharing love, joining hands to overcome the COVID-19 epidemic" and "Sharing love with the central region" were effective spearheads of the country's youth in the fight against COVID-19 and the direct support of compatriots affected by natural disasters.

Under the theme "Vietnam aspiration", the 3rd Vietnam Young Talent Congress 2020 gathered 400 outstanding young people from both home and abroad. The congress commended young talent during the 2015-2020 period and proposed solutions to care for, foster and promote young Vietnamese talent in the near future.

In 2020, the Youth Union Central Committee implemented a series of activities to support rural youth doing business such as supporting them in the One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) programme, building communication products introducing cooperative programmes, hosting a Rural Youth Innovation and Startup Project 2020, and organising the 15th anniversary of the Luong Dinh Cua Award and the 2020 Luong Dinh Cua Award Ceremony.

Under the framework of the "National Innovation Start-up Festival - Techfest 2020", the 2nd Youth Startup Forum and the 3rd Youth Startup Journey analysed the dynamics necessary for the Vietnamese startup community to develop in the near future, while identifying difficulties in the post-pandemic economy that negatively affect the goals of promoting innovative start-up companies in Vietnam.

In order to realise the "Ten thousand steps per day" movement and raise funds to build 16 Community Cultural Houses for 16 ethnic minority communities, the "Steps for the community" programme, launched in June 2020, was a success, raising more than VND1.8 billion for the project’s fund.

The 9th National Uncle Ho's Children Congress 2020 was attended by 344 representatives of outstanding children across the country. At the congress, the Organising Committee featured a new initiative on the construction and awarding of a library collection worth VND250 million to students in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province.

Within the framework of Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, the Youth Union Central Committee launched a series of activities to promote the Vietnam-ASEAN Youth Friendship Cooperation, including a talk-show on Vietnamese Youth and ASEAN, a reception of ASEAN senior leaders with the Vietnamese youth, the ASEAN Youth Leadership Conference, the 4th ASEAN Students’ Council Conference and a conference of young ASEAN scientists. In addition, there was an ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Forum, an ASEAN Young Diplomatic Exchange Programme and the Vietnam - ASEAN Youth Day.