After 12 weeks of implementation, the “Books for trees” programme 2024, held by charity group Fly To Sky under the National Volunteer Centre of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, saw nearly 10,000 item exchanges and drawn more than 6,000 volunteers in exchange points across the country.

The programme "Books for trees" was implemented by the Hoa Phuong Do Volunteer Team of the Hoang Hoa Tham Senior High School in coordination with Fly To Sky to spread the message of love to children in difficult circumstances. Photo: H.L

It received 14 tonnes of books and papers of all kinds; more than 25,000 items of clothing and toys; nearly 20,000 old batteries; 32,000 used milk bottles, cans and carton boxes; and many others.

The annual event aims to promote the reading culture, especially among youngsters, and raise public awareness of the environmental protection.

In Da Nang, the “Books for trees” programme was co-organised by the Fly To Sky and the Hoa Phuong Do (Red Phoenix Flowers) Volunteer Team of the Hoang Hoa Tham Senior High School with the aim to spread the message of love to children in difficult circumstances.

Nguyen Do Bao Tram, Deputy Head of the Hoa Phuong Do Volunteer Team, said that after each week of organisation, the team received dozens of kilograms of books and papers of all kinds. In the first week alone, they collected 100 kilograms of books and papers and more than 330 other products such as clothes, school bags, cans, etc.

According to Bao Tram, the special thing is that the programme lasted for 12 weeks, but the number of young people coming to exchange books for trees did not decrease but tended to increase. Notably, many young people participated in the programme for many weeks in a row, even giving away sets of new textbooks.

The team was divided into groups of textbooks, reference books, children's books, newspapers, notebooks, school bags, school supplies, and milk cartons, used batteries, etc. Based on the exchanged quantity, the team gave back succulents, bonsai or other environmentally friendly products.

Bao Tram said that the programme announced a different gift each week to avoid repeating donated products, creating excitement for participants. Through the meaningful programme, the volunteer team hopes to contribute to supporting books for children in the highlands, spreading the message of green living as well as developing a reading culture in the community.

After participating in the programme 5 times, Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, born in 2007, Phuoc My Ward, Son Tra District, said that she has a collection of succulents and straws made of reed grass, gufoods rice, sedge grass, bamboo toothbrushes.

"When I come here, in addition to bringing products that can be exchanged, I also want to access environmentally friendly products that are beneficial to health such as bamboo straws and toothbrushes. Also, what makes me excited is having many new friends who share the same interests and love for nature and the environment", Hong Nhung shared.

Initiated by Fly To Sky in 2019, the annual “Books for trees” programme has so far attracted the participation of more than 50 units, businesses, and social organisations. Its purpose is to bring meaningful gifts to children in mountainous areas and difficult circumstances, and those living in orphanages and social protection centres.

Le Van Phuc, 22, Head of the Fly To Sky group, informed that the “Books for trees” programme collects 10-20 tonnes of paper and books of all kinds each year. About 500-700 sets of textbooks, 5,000-10,000 books, along with many bookcases and community libraries, are donated to schools in mountainous, remote, border, ethnic minority areas and social protection facilities.

“Aside from spreading the message of love to children in difficult circumstances, the programme hopes to create a green consumption network among young people, while raising their awareness of using book resources and environmentally friendly products, and promoting recycling activities" Phuc affirmed.

Reporting by HUYNH LE - Translating by M.DUNG, T.TUNG