In response to the campaign called "Each member makes beautiful gesture, each organization takes meaningful action" launched by the Da Nang Women's Union, the An Trung 1A and An My chapters, An Hai Tay Ward, Son Tra District, have yielded positive results in supporting poor and disadvantaged members by collecting recyclables through recycling fundraisers, and launching the "Happy Vitamins" program.

Members of the An Trung 1A chapter donating vegetables, tubers, and necessities to local poor people. Photo: HUYNH VU

Mrs. Huynh Thi Le, the Head of the An Trung 1A chapter, said that the chapter has attracted the participation of nearly 116 families, and most of them have actively engaged with the campaign. Plastic waste collection and recycling has produced fruitful results over the past nearly 6 years. Specifically, the chapter’s members monthly focus on collecting waste, and segregate them in four categories: organic or biodegradable waste, reusable waste (plastic bottles, packaging, paper, iron and steel), hazardous waste (batteries, pesticide bottles), and non-biodegradable waste. They then use organic waste as fertilizer to grow organic vegetables and ornamental plants while the hazardous waste is sent to an approved facility and other waste is dumped in a proper place and in a proper manner by disposing and recycling them.

“The money raised from the sale of recyclables goes to help disabled women members, poor households, and single mothers in the locality and neighboring areas. In addition, the "Happy Vitamins" program has been launched since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the 30^th of the month, 60 material gifts including vegetables, tubes, rice, cooking oil, fish sauce, and salt are given to poor labourers who are the street sellers of lottery tickets, motorcycle taxi and cyclo drivers, household scrap buyers, street vendors and others. Furthermore, our charity program has received strong support from benefactors. Above all, our waste collection campaign contributes to protecting the environment, and keeping our residential areas clean and beautiful, as well as bringing joy and happiness to those in need. In the coming time, we will try to promote the effectiveness of the our campaign in order to spread positivity to other parts of the city," remarked Mrs Le.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong, a member of the An Trung 1A chapter happily said: "Although we are busy with our own work, we are still willing to dedicate our time and efforts in classifying collected waste at the end of the month, and then sell recyclables for cash to buy necessary supplies to help people in difficult circumstances. We feel happy when doing meaningful things. We hope that in the future, we will collect more recyclables to sell it for cash in order to allow us to double or triple the gifts to offer them to poor people."

In a similar move, the An My Chapter has also gained good results from fundraising with waste collection and recycling. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, the Head of the An My Chapter, said: "The recycling fundraiser has been launched for more than 15 years by the chapter. Our campaign has received active support from food and drink traders as our residential area is located near a traditional market where many food and drink stalls are operating so they generate a lot of reusable plastics, including bottles, and cans. Over the past 15 years, the money raised by recycling has gone to help people living in poverty, as well as support disadvantaged school pupils and orphans to help them achieve their dreams. Moreover, we also donate cakes and milk to poor patients who are under treatment at local hospitals and children in the city-based orphanages."

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong My Le Dung, the Chairwoman of the An Hai Tay Ward Chapter said: " The waste collection and classification campaign has produced positive results in the An Trung 1A and An My chapters, and others across the ward for several years in a row. The recycling fundraiser has helped to give gifts to poor women, as well as offer cakes and candies to children on public holidays and Lunar New Year."

Reporting by HUYNH VU – Translating by H.L