 |
| Gabrielle Chwazik-Gee (C) from the U.S. Consulate General poses for a photo with other attendees at the closing event of the Safety Delivered program in HCMC – PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZER |
More than a million children and young people suffer from head injuries due to road crashes worldwide. The financial costs of this road crash crisis especially affect low- and middle-income countries and their vulnerable road users. In Vietnam, more than 2,000 children lose their lives each year on the roads.
At the event, representatives of the AIP Foundation, the U.S. Consulate General in HCMC, UPS Vietnam and HCMC officials of the Traffic Safety Committee, Department of Education and Training and Public Security Agency joined students, parents and teachers at the program’s schools to raise awareness over the life-saving importance of wearing helmets among children and the communities.
“All of us at the U.S. Consulate General have truly enjoyed this partnership and continue to be impressed by this group’s ability to discuss such a serious topic in a fun, creative and effective way. We look forward to continuing to work with the AIP Foundation as well as with all the representatives here today to make the streets of Vietnam even safer. And thank you to our children for wearing your helmets,” said Gabrielle Chwazik-Gee, Vice Consul, U.S. Consulate General in HCMC.
The event showcased the achievements at the program’s schools through Safety Delivered activities and featured an award ceremony for winners of the “Three Steps, Be Safe” helmet safety dance competition, which also received a creative submission from the U.S. Consulate General in HCMC.
Supported by the UPS Foundation and implemented by the AIP Foundation in Cambodia, India, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, the Safety Delivered program aims to reduce road crash injuries and fatalities among vulnerable motorcyclists by working with young drivers to improve their driving behaviors and promoting the usage of helmets among children.
In Vietnam, the program has delivered road safety education to children and promoted access to safe equipment through the distribution of helmets. Through its work, AIP Foundation has expanded to advocate for and shed light on the need for better quality helmets in Vietnam to protect vulnerable road users.
