More than 1,700 students, school staff, government stakeholders, and community leaders joined together to celebrate International Walk to School Month and the launch of the new 4-year plan for the Walk This Way program, sponsored by FedEx Express. The Pedestrian Safety Gala was hosted at Hong Bang Secondary School in District 5 of Ho Chi Minh City. It was held in tandem with other events in more than 40 countries to highlight the importance of creating safe walking environments for all children. The celebration included pedestrian safety-themed games, puzzles, student performances, and a flash mob dance. Mr. Thang Dao, FedEx’s Senior Manager of Indochina and Country Manager of Vietnam, attended the event. He was joined by other stakeholders, including government officials and celebrity ambassadors.

The new 4-year plan for Walk This Way focuses on serving schools affected by construction of the city’s new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, which is scheduled to commence in 2017. Once completed, the BRT corridor will increase the number of pedestrians and non-motorized transport users in the area. AIP Foundation, operating as Safe Kids Vietnam, will replicate the pedestrian safety model developed and implemented in past years at project schools in District 9.

FedEx has worked with Safe Kids Vietnam to support the Walk This Way campaign since 2009.

View more photos from the event here.

Read the full press release here.