With the aim of spreading the kindness and positive lifestyle of Swedish culture among young adults, the Sweden Alumni Network Viet Nam - SANV under the Viet Nam-Sweden Friendship Association  has recently cooperated with many units in Da Nang to organize useful and meaningful activities, attracting numerous youngsters to participate.

Young people participated in the books and clothes exchange session organized by the SANV in Da Nang. Photo: D.L

As shared by Ms Nguyen Minh Chau, the president of SANV, currently, there have been about 400-500 Vietnamese students studying in Sweden. On an annual basis, SANV has organized more than 10 activities related to topics such as gender equality, and sustainable development.

This year, during the Sustainable Development Week, SANV cooperated with Da Nang Department of Tourism, Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Zone 2 (DaNang MRCC), Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches Management Board, Tho Quang ward-based Youth Union in Son Tra District, Da Nang Sub Club to organize events such as running activities combined with picking up trash, clean the seabed, exchange old clothes and books, to spread the Swedish culture to Da Nang community and enhance sustainable development.

Reusing old books and clothes

One of the meaningful activities of SANV that has been responded by the young in Da Nang is Clothes & Book Swap at Wonderlust cafe, 96 Tran Phu, Hai Chau District as they can bring their unused items to exchange for other items, including second-hand books and clothes to increase the useful life of these items. Fika is a Swedish coffee culture activity which combines drinking coffee and eco-friendly activities.

Ms Hoang Thu Huong, a participant in this activity said that she was joyful to see people exchanging their old clothes here. This was such a very meaningful activity that helps reuse old things to avoid waste.
Meanwhile, Mr Nguyen Quang Thong, a student at the University of Foreign Languages - the University of Da Nang, shared: “I knew this activity via Facebook and I also picked up some interesting books for myself here. The English books here have beautiful pictures and colours that make me feel more excited when learning English.”

"The remaining clothes in the Clothes & Book Swap will be gathered and sent to the People's Committee of Tho Quang Ward so that whoever is in need can take it at the Ward Cultural House. Also, the surplus books are also concentrated to build a source of books for Rang Dong Kindergarten and the library of Tho Quang ward", added Ms Nguyen Minh Chau.

Jogging to pick up trash and clean the beach

In addition, the activity “Beach Plogging” - Jogging to pick up trash and clean the beach has also drawn huge attention from young people in Da Nang MRCC, Son Tra Peninsula and Danang Tourism Beaches Management Board, and Da Nang Sub Club.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Duc, Secretary of Da Nang MRCC, thanks to this activity, people can learn how to work as a team to address problems, can improve their physical strength and contribute to preserving and protecting the marine ecological environment. The union members, young adults and crew members of Da Nang MRCC had participated in jogging to pick up trash and clean the seabed. In particular, diving to scavenge is quite complicated as it must be done so as not to damage the coral reefs and undersea landscape.

Plogging is an initiative from Sweden with the hope that more people will make positive changes to the environment by picking up trash while exercising. This is an easy and eco-friendly form of exercise. In fact, Plogging has spread to more than 40 countries such as the USA, Canada, India, Philippines, Australia, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Although the Beach Plogging activity has been held for the first time in Da Nang, it has attracted a host of youngsters involved in, contributing to raising the awareness of environmental protection not only at the beach but also in the ocean. At the same time, it helps to spread the culture of Sweden's active lifestyle to the Da Nang community, contributing to the promotion of sustainable development.

Reporting by DOAN LUONG- Translating by T.VY