Intl. WeLoveU Foundation Signs an MOU with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam

On October 21, 2020, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam for humanitarian aid. Both parties gathered at their respective event venues and held a video conference for an MOU signing ceremony to support vulnerable groups amid COVID-19. The video conference was attended by the board members of the WeLoveU, including Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, Vice-Chairman Kim Joo-cheol, and Board President Lee Kang-min; and by officials of the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam such as Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director General of Department of International Co-operation; Nguyen Xuan Long, Deputy Director General of Department of National Devotees; and Cao Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director General of Department of International Co-operation.

WeLoveU builds partnership with the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam for humanitarian aid

The friendship between the WeLoveU and Vietnam dates back about twenty years. The WeLoveU has carried out well-being activities in both countries ever since it supported the establishment of a child center in Vietnam in 2002. In Korea, the WeLoveU has provided support for Vietnamese children with heart disease, and support for Vietnamese immigrant women and multicultural families in Korea as well. In Vietnam, the WeLoveU has carried out blood drives, Clean WORLD Movement, and supportive events for Vietnamese Heroic Mothers(the bereaved women who had to take up the family responsibility).

Based on such solidarity, the MOU was signed to help vulnerable groups in Vietnam and improve the well-being of the people through various humanitarian aids. At 10:30 a.m. by Korean standard time (8:30 a.m. in Hanoi, Vietnam), the international conference room of the WeLoveU located in Pangyo, Korea, and the conference hall of Adonis Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, were connected online via video conference. The event started in a friendly atmosphere, and lasted for about an hour and a half with simultaneous interpretation in Korean and Vietnamese.

Promise to strengthen ties between Korea and Vietnam and cooperate for well-being activities

Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah, in her opening speech, hoped that the cooperation that was agreed at this conference would become a milestone for a bright future although the whole world is having a hard time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also hoped that the signing of the MOU would be the first step toward achieving the common goal of humankind, based on cooperation between the WeLoveU and Vietnam.

“COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges and tasks to us, but it couldn’t stop our cooperation. Today’s online conference is the proof,” said Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director General of Department of International Co-operation of the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam. “Vietnam and Korea have been in close partnership, and Ministry of Labour highly appreciate the cooperative activities of the WeLoveU,” he added to express his thanks.

After the opening address and introduction of the organizations, cooperation plans were presented. Jang Hyeon-jin, Manager of the WeLoveU Chapter in Vietnam, proposed three major plans to cooperate with the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam in the future: First, support the lives of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers; second, support livelihoods and infrastructure and provide volunteer service and education for underprivileged families, disabled, and other vulnerable groups; third, constantly carry out blood drives and the Clean WORLD Movement. Through such practical and diverse activities, the WeLoveU plans to promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Vietnam.

Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah delivers the first round of support fund to the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam

The MOU was signed by Lee Kang-min the Board President of the WeLoveU, and Nguyen Manh Cuong the Director General of Department of International Co-operation of the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam. Board President Lee Kang-min said, “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, warm cooperation based on the love of a mother is more essential than ever.” He expected that this MOU signing would pave the way to build humanitarian solidarity between the WeLoveU and Vietnam and accomplish the development and happiness of the global village.

After the MOU signing ceremony, Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah delivered the first round of support fund to the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam. This fund is used to help war victims (veterans) by supporting the eight invalids nursing centers under the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam. Nguyen Van Huong the Director of the Invalids Nursing Center in Thuan Thanh said that there were not enough facilities, rehabilitation programs, and nursing staff for veterans because Vietnam had suffered many wars in the past, which resulted in many war victims. Furthermore, the situation has become more challenging due to COVID-19, and so he thanked the WeLoveU all the more for its timely support to the nursing center.

I’m very happy to sign an MOU with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam for peace and well-being of humankind. Let’s work together to accomplish the common goals of international society such as eradication of poverty and famine, through this MOU. I hope we will contribute to making a better future for humankind through our communication and cooperation.

Intl. WeLoveU Foundation Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah

The event ended with smiles and clapping as both parties shouted, “We love you!” together. The importance of well-being activities to protect the underprivileged cannot be overemphasized. It is even more so now as the socio-economic difficulties of many countries are intensifying due to the pandemic. We expect the MOU signing will stimulate the partnership between the WeLoveU and the Ministry of Labour of Vietnam in times when the need for international cooperation to combat COVID-19 is emerging.