From Picking Up Trash to Spreading Environmental Awareness

Environmental Action

Projects and community groups led by environmentally conscious young people are becoming increasingly common, contributing to meaningful changes in the community, protecting public health and promoting environmental awareness.

One notable example is the “Lam Mau” project in Phan Thiet, which has around 100 young participants. They have organized cleanups and decoration activities in various locations, including the seawall area along Thuong Chanh Beach in Phan Thiet, Lam Dong, where public urination, defecation and littering have been common.

Ngo Le Minh Thu, deputy head of the “Lam Mau” project, said: “Every Saturday and Sunday morning, we clean up and decorate the seawall area along Thuong Chanh Beach to make it more attractive. By removing litter and improving the landscape, we can attract people to come and take photos. This can raise awareness among local residents about not littering or relieving themselves in public, while encouraging local authorities to pay greater attention to maintaining a green, clean environment.”

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By removing litter and improving the landscape, we can attract people to visit and take photos. The images can help raise public awareness and discourage indiscriminate littering. They can also encourage local authorities to pay greater attention to maintaining a green, clean environment.

Ngo Le Minh Thu, Deputy Head of the “Lam Mau” Project

Similarly, the “Let’s Do It!” Binh Thuan Group is part of an international nonprofit environmental organization operating in many countries, including Vietnam. The group is led by Truong Bich Tram, a second-year student at Ton Duc Thang University.

Tram said: “I joined the group when I was in 10th grade, together with previous generations of members. There are now more than 100 people in the group, most of them high school and university students, and we regularly organize cleanups on beaches.”

Recently, the group worked with the “Lam Mau” project, the Phan Thiet Ward Youth Union, the Youth Union branch of the Phan Thiet Coastal Information Station, and the Youth Union branch of Tax Base 6 of Lam Dong Province to organize a cleanup at Thuong Chanh Beach, attracting many participants. Earlier, the group also organized a cleanup at Long Son–Suoi Nuoc Beach in Mui Ne Ward.

On social media, Facebook and TikTok users have shared and supported numerous videos and posts about the group’s beach cleanup activities. Images of young people wearing Youth Union shirts or casual clothes, gloves and other equipment, tirelessly collecting plastic bags, bottles and other waste have left a strong impression on the public.

Spreading Environmental Awareness and Youthful Enthusiasm

Although some people say that litter will simply return the next day after an area has been cleaned, volunteers from environmental projects, groups and clubs continue their work.

Their actions reflect their love for the environment and the places where they live, while inspiring both today’s young people and future generations to live with greater responsibility for protecting the environment.

Le Thi Bich Hong, a 12th-grade student at Phan Thiet High School, said: “I have joined environmental cleanups organized by my school and volunteer groups many times, and I feel very happy doing so. But I also feel sad because some people are still unaware and continue to litter in places where it is not allowed, while others are making every effort to protect the environment.”

The efforts of young people help spread the message that environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility, not the responsibility of any one individual or group. When each household takes greater responsibility for waste management at source, including sorting waste and disposing of it properly, young people today and future generations can live and grow up in a clean environment free from pollution.

By taking part in environmental protection activities, young people also have opportunities to connect, exchange experiences and build greater environmental awareness within the community. They and future generations face the risk of bearing the most serious impacts of climate change and environmental pollution.

Nguyen Le Gia Lin, Secretary of the Phan Thiet Ward Youth Union, said: “Young people today have fairly good awareness of environmental protection issues. When environmental cleanup campaigns are launched, they actively respond. Many also participate in environmental groups, projects and clubs, creating a strong ripple effect throughout the community and encouraging younger children to follow their example.”