The walk will start from Mui Nai Beach, Kien Giang province.

VietNamNet Bridge – A trans-Vietnam coastal walk for children and the environment, sponsored by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union will start on October 1, 2008 in Kien Giang Province.

The walk is organised in response to a UN appeal towards “Building a World Fit for Children” and the Vietnamese President’s letter to the organising board of “Month of Action for Coastal Children 2007”.

“Protecting children and maintaining environment”, will run for six weeks, starting from Mui Nai beach, in Kien Giang along 3,260km of coastline and 28 provinces to end at Mui Ngoc beach, in northern Quang Ninh province.

Participants in the walk are from a wide range of backgrounds and include social activists, teachers, diplomats, students, journalists and children from coastal localities. 
 

During the walk, seven meetings and programs to help disadvantaged children and promote environment protection will be held. A photo book will also be compiled of the journey and displayed in two exhibitions in Hanoi and HCM City.

The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs will also announce the UN Secretary-General’s “Study on Violence against Children” summary report in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang Province and Quang Ninh Province.

Nguyen Dang Thiet, the walk manager, said the walk will look to break a few records: the longest trans-Vietnam coastal walk (3,260km), the walk with the highest number of participants and the largest T-shirt which symbolizes protection for children and the environment.

The coastal walk is the second part of a program named “Itinerary for Vietnam”, which was kicked off in early July 2008. The first part, called “Green Itinerary”, was a trans-Vietnam ride from Hanoi to HCM City of 200 volunteers on bicycles, carrying messages about protecting children and the environment.

The organizers said through this walk, they will contribute VND3-4 billion ($187,000 – 250,000) to help disadvantaged children and the environment.

The walk is held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

 (Source: TP/TTXVN)