Da Nang’s school pupils who are participating in the Scrap Fabric Upcycling Project are turning leftover fabric scraps into fabric paintings, masks, hair bows and other useful things as a way to spread love and raise environmental awareness in their community.

The project to upcycle fabric scraps aims to build positive relationships between parents and their children while creating creative products from leftover fabric scraps as well as to spread kindness in their community. Photo: H.L

Initiated by Goun – a domestic favourite brand for mommy and me fashion in April 2022,  the project has till date has organized more than 25 short-term training courses in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Da Lat and other localities across Viet Nam in efforts to create a creative playground for children.

Spreading kindness in the community

On weekend mornings, the Tuong Lai (Future) Special School Campus 2 for children with disabilities localted in Hai Chau District is resounded with the sounds of cutting fabric by Goun- launched project’s participants. The school’s students are taught by volunteers to make beautiful handmade items from leftover fabric scraps.

Ms. Doan Cong Thuy Dung, who take charge as a project manager in Da Nang, remarked that the Tuong Lai Special School for children with disabilities has been chosen to organise a training course within the framework of the project in order to create an experience playground for these unlucky children. They are taught to make hair bows, cloth bags, masks, hair ties, fabric paintings and more from fabric scraps while having the chance to communicate with their parents and friends as well as to share their feelings with these people.

“Such a training course is free for trainees with the aim of raising environmental awareness in our community. The trainees only needs to prepare thread, needle and scissors to create personalised handmade items from leftover fabric scraps." said Ms. Dung.

In Da Nang, 4 training courses featuring different topics have been opened for trainees to help them create doll fabric paintings, bows, cloth bags, and masks.

Ms. Nguyen To Uyen, the Manager of Pingo English School in Da Nang, said that she was very impressed with the meaningful message of environmental protection and love sharing conveyed to the community by the project.

“The project’s participants will give their handmade item from leftover fabric scraps as a gift to their friends in difficult circumstances. One of registration requirements for participating in the project is parents’ commitment to accompany their children in all activities. In other words, during the duration of participation in the project, parents will be required to turn off their phones to spend their time with their children to make creative items," said Uyen.

Helping children unleash their creativity

Launched in April 2022, the project to upcycle fabric scraps has till date opened more than 25 training courses in Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Da Nang, Da Lat, Dong Nai, and other localities throughout the country.

Ms. Dien Vi, the founder of the Goun brand for mommy and me fashion highlighted the project’s core values in teaching children about love and kindness, environmental protection and sensible recycling.

Each of training courses with a variety of topics has attracted about 30-50 trainees. Ms. Dien Vi pointed out the biggest benefit brought by the project is to build a closer relationship between parents and their children, help the participants increase their patience, boost their creativity and improve their teamwork skills.

Furthermore, the participants have the opportunity to learn how to protect the environment, and share their joy and luck with their friends with disabilities and those in difficult circumstances.

“The training courses are free for children in a bid to help them improve themselves. We will use our ‘For children’ Fund to open more such courses, donate support learning tools and essential items for children in mountainous areas, plus disabled and disadvantaged children”, Ms. Dien Vi added.

Reporting by HUYNH LE – Translating by H.L