Through small activities such as collecting plastic waste, and recycling products from excess fabric, the young people of the Green Da Nang group have joined hands to reduce the impact of polluting waste, contributing to spreading the message of green living and environmental protection.

Green Da Nang group leader Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao (right) and young adults collected cans and waste paper from local people. Photo: X.H

Periodically operating on the last Sunday of every month for nearly 2 years now, the Green Danang group led by Ms Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and 25 volunteers have organized the program "Exchange garbage for gifts".

Mrs Huynh Thi Huong, residing in Chinh Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District, found the program captivating and meaningful. She and her grandchildren have accumulated a large bag of plastic bottles and paperboard to bring to the program.
“Although I can collect plastic waste and paper to sell at my place, I prefer to exchange recyclables for plants or recycled items. At the same time, through the program, I can educate the children about the awareness of environmental protection, "said Ms Huong.

As a volunteer of the program, Vinh Huyen Ton Nu Bao Ngoc, residing in Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, shared that in the past, I thought that I had to do something very special to make a change in environmental protection. Now, however, I understand that even the smallest actions such as not using single-use plastic, and collecting paper bags for recycling are protecting the environment. This program has welcome people of all ages to engage to make life better.

According to Ms Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the original intention of the Green Da Nang group was to collect milk cartons since at that no organizations were implementing this program  in Da Nang.
So far, Green Danang has collected nearly 4 tons of recyclable waste through 4 times of organizing the program. In addition to the companionship of many youngsters, this activity has also received a lot of support from partners with environmentally friendly products such as plant pots, book bags, and photo frames made from recycled items to send to participants in garbage exchange activities

Moreover, there is also a small corner on the campus of the program for disabled women of the Center for Research and Community Inclusion to display recycled products from waste fabrics and rags such as bags, lanyards, and decorative items, contributing to the diversity of environmental protection products.
According to Ms Mai Thi Dung, Director of the Center for Research and Community Inclusion, not only do the recycled products of women with disabilities contribute to environmental protection, help them earn additional income, but they also help change the awareness of many people about the contribution of the handicapped to environmental protection activities because, through the above activities, people with disabilities will automatically more confident about themselves to contribute in useful activities for the community.

“To draw more people's attention to the "Exchange garbage for gifts" program, we will proactively contact schools to guide pupils in collecting milk cartons, contributing to changing the perception of many children in the community in environmental protection. In addition, we will develop the Green Point software, which helps to accumulate points when participating in garbage collection to exchange for gifts or to contribute to projects for the community, to make bigger and more meaningful changes,” shared Ms Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.

Reporting by N.QUANG - X.HAU- Translating by T.VY