Ho Chi Minh City, August 17, 2025 – MSD United Way Vietnam (MSD), in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, successfully organized the “Spread Love” Festival 2025 at the Cultural Residence No. 34 in Binh Tan Ward. The event is part of the annual Spread Love Campaign, under MSD’s Children and Youth Program, which MSD and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union have jointly implemented for several years.
“Spread Love” Festival 2025: “Educating with Love – Love Prevents Violence”
With the theme “Educating with Love – Love Prevents Violence”, the 2025 campaign focuses on parents, caregivers, teachers, and key stakeholders. It emphasizes eliminating all forms of physical and emotional punishment and discrimination against children, while fostering safe, positive environments where children can freely express their views and participate in decisions affecting their lives. Central to this year’s initiative is the promotion of non-violent, positive parenting and education practices.
Since the inception in 2017, the “Spread Love” Festival has become a signature annual event of MSD United Way Vietnam. The 2025 edition aimed to create meaningful opportunities for parents and children to strengthen their bonds, practice positive discipline, and advance the shared vision of ending all forms of corporal and psychological punishment. This year’s Festival welcomed representatives from the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Ho Chi Minh City Team Council, the Institute for Social Development Studies (MSD), Mr. Bui Chi Tinh – Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Child Rights Protection Association, local authorities of Binh Tan Ward, alongside more than 500 parents, children, young workers, and media agencies.
Ms. Trinh Thi Hien Tran in her opening remarks
In her opening remarks, Ms. Trinh Thi Hien Tran, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Team Council, highlighted:
“In 2025, with the theme ‘Educating with Love – Love Prevents Violence’, the program is organized at Cultural Residence No. 34 in Vinh Loc Industrial Park—home to many workers and their families. This is not only a festival for children, but also an opportunity for parents to listen, share, and learn to raise their children with love. We hope that, starting from families here, the value of love will spread more widely, so that Vietnamese children can grow up in happiness and affection. Today’s activities and messages are a heartfelt gift from the organizers to children and families, reminding us all that the best education is rooted in love.”
Mrs. Nguyen Phuong Linh sharing the core message
Echoing this, Mrs. Nguyen Phuong Linh, Director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (MSD) and Co-Founder of MSD United Way Vietnam, stressed:
“We believe that the ability to be happy and to love is essential for every child today. Love does not make children weak; rather, it is the foundation that enables them to grow with confidence, self-worth, and respect for others. Every embrace, every word of encouragement, and every patient moment of listening is a building block in creating safe ecosystems where children can develop intellectually, emotionally, and morally. By choosing to spread love, adults not only transform the life of one child but also contribute to building a generation that is happy, compassionate, and kind.”
At the Festival, Mr. Duong Quang Minh, Founder of the Seroto Foundation and of the “Raising Happy Children” Club with 330,000 members, engaged in a friendly dialogue with participating families. In his talk “Raising Children with the Capacity for Happiness”, he emphasized:
“Parenting is like nurturing a tree. We cannot force it to flower or bear fruit on our terms; we can only give it love and care so it grows according to its nature. Children are the same. Instead of molding them into our expectations, let us allow them to grow according to their own abilities and strengths. No matter who they become, our role is to love, support, and walk alongside them. Parenting means creating a safe, loving environment where children are free to become themselves.”
Mr. Duong Quang Minh in his expert talk
A highlight of the Festival was the panel discussion “Children’s Special Companion”, moderated by MC Do Phuong Thao. The panel featured Mr. Duong Quang Minh, Ms. Do Phuong Thao – Founder of the Kids Language Academy (KLA), and Mrs. Huynh Thi Xuan Huong, a local parent. Sharing her experience, Mrs. Huong expressed:
“After a long and stressful workday, it’s easy to bring home tension. But I always try to remain calm and not take it out on my child. Instead of letting emotions take over, I breathe deeply and choose to smile or ask about my child’s day. Frequent conversations and heartfelt sharing help me better understand my child’s feelings, strengthening our bond.”
Mrs. Huynh Thi Xuan Huong in the panel discussion
Following the discussion, MC Do Phuong Thao launched the 21-Day Spreading Love Challenge, a journey for families to practice positive parenting through small, meaningful daily actions. Parents and children are encouraged to join a supportive community, engage in simple, warm activities together, and foster enduring habits of care and connection.
The Festival provided an interactive platform for children and families to learn about child rights and the elimination of corporal and emotional punishment, especially in the home and school settings. Engaging activities included: “What Children Want to Say” corner, “Love Through Reading” space, “Family Fun Zone” with various games and activities. Each participating family also received a “Spreading Love Gift Set”, featuring communication materials promoting positive discipline and non-violent education.
Families participating in activites together
One parent, Mr. Hung, joyfully shared:
“It was wonderful to spend this weekend with my child, taking part in so many fun activities—making keychains, bracelets for loved ones, painting, and writing letters for the ‘House of Love’. The most meaningful part is simply having quality time together, building happy memories and stronger bonds.”
Booths at the festival
Throughout the Festival, heartfelt words such as “Mom and Dad love you” and “I love you, Mom and Dad” were spoken again and again, creating an atmosphere of warmth and connection. Following the Festival, the Spread Love Campaign 2025 will continue with the 21-Day Spreading Love Challenge, capacity-building workshops for parents and children, and additional training sessions. The campaign will run until September 30, 2025.
