Kids cheer Uncle Ho’s birthday

      Hundreds of young people are set to take part in a festival to celebrate President Ho Chi Minh’s 119th birthday on May 19 at the Youth Cultural House in HCM City this weekend.
Titled "Young people work following Uncle Ho’s words", the event will feature cultural and community activities like traditional sport competitions, music, and plays by famous artists.
To be organised by the city Youth Union and others including Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, its highlight will be a speaking contest for secondary school students on what they learned and how they follow President Ho Chi Minh’s morals.
"All of us will have a chance to show our great love and respect for the President," Hoang Thuy Minh, a student of the Tran Van On High School in Binh Thanh District, said.
Minh said she practises every day to improve her elocution skills for the "Since then I learn and follow Uncle Ho’s instructions" contest.
Minh has written in her speech that President Ho’s frugal and modest nature has inspired many youngsters to live and work better.
"Uncle Ho is my idol," she plans to say at the contest.
But like many others, she admitted that, "although I decided to enter the contest, I’m not confident of talking about Uncle Ho".
"Uncle Ho was so great. He is the greatest mirror for not only older people but also younger generations," she said.
The organisers will give away scholarships to children of soldiers who worked and fought on the Truong Son Trail during the American War but are in difficult circumstances now.
The event will begin at 8am on Sunday.
Students from city schools and colleges began a clutch of activities this week to mark the President’s birthday.