Workshop highlights Buddhists’ role in social activities

The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC), the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) under the Vietnam National University Hanoi, and the Kien Giang administration.

Participants underlined that Vietnamese Buddhists have taken social and charitable activities as a way to show their humanity and kindness towards the less privileged and join the Party, the State and all-level committees of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in ensuring social welfares and equality.

They added Buddhists-sponsored activities cover a wide range of areas such as education, vocational training, transport infrastructure construction, and support for the poor, the disabled, orphans, and victims of natural disasters and Agent Orange.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the USSH’s faculty of philosophy, said since the VBS was set up nearly 40 years ago, it has organised Buddhist activities for more than 30,000 monks and nuns and 40 million Buddhist followers nationwide who have funded the building of 25 hospitals, 655 medicine supply centres, and nearly 200 classrooms for street children, among others. Buddhists have donated trillions of VND to social and charitable activities.

VFFCC Vice President and Secretary General Tran Thanh Man shared the view on the role of Vietnamese Buddhists in promoting social and charitable work, adding that their practical and effective activities have helped eliminate poverty and ensure social welfares.

He also asked the VBS to promote its role in humanitarian activities and expand good deeds.