By Lan Anh
TVU – Millions of tons of plastic waste are discarded every day, causing serious harm to the environment and living creatures. This issue may seem distant to many people; however, student Nguyen Ngoc Han, the vice monitor of class 5D at the Laboratory School, has experienced a profound shift in perspective after participating in the 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) project.
Ms. Ngoc Han and 150 schoolmates had the opportunity to participate in the 3R project organized by Tra Vinh University at the end of November 2024. Although initially unsure of her potential impact, Han quickly discovered through hands-on activities that even a young student like her could contribute significantly to environmental change.
The 3R project immersed Han in meaningful activities. She was confronted with the harsh realities of plastic pollution, viewing images and videos of environmental damage and the heartbreaking suffering of animals ensnared by plastic waste. This wasn’t just abstract learning; Ngoc Han and her peers took direct action, cleaning their school grounds, collecting and sorting waste, and creatively repurposing materials like plastic bottles, newspapers, and milk cartons into useful objects.
Ms. Ngoc Han particularly cherished her role as an environmental ambassador because that allowed her to actively promote the reduction of plastic bags and single-use plastics. One of her most memorable experiences was winning first prize in the drawing contest to protect the environment with her artwork, ‘Saving Wild Animals.’ Furthermore, she was deeply honored to present her work to the Canadian Embassy delegation during their evaluation meeting regarding the 3R project at her school.
Looking back on her journey, Ngoc Han realized how much she had changed. Where environmental concerns once held little significance, she now champions sustainable practices at home, actively guiding her family in waste sorting and plastic reduction. Moreover, she no longer overlooks litter when going out but actively collects and disposes of it properly. Her resourcefulness also shines through in repurposing old stationery: she reuses her old books and pencil case instead of buying new ones. She even crafts school supplies from recycled plastic bottles and newspapers.
Not only did she change her own habits, but Ngoc Han also strives to spread the spirit of environmental protection to her friends and family. She believes that cumulative individual efforts can lead to profound collective change. The actions of Nguyen Ngoc Han and her fellow students are a powerful testament that the younger generation can contribute to protecting our clean, green, and beautiful planet!
Information about the 3R Youth Project
The 3R Youth Project is a meaningful initiative funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI)—Embassy of Canada to Vietnam. Its core objective is to raise awareness and encourage action among young people regarding reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic waste.
The project focuses on building environmentally friendly habits among students, encouraging them to sort waste, recycle plastic bottles and scrap paper, and utilize recyclable waste to raise funds for those facing significant challenges in their academic journey.
Through practical activities such as collecting plastic waste and selling it for fundraising and participating in environmental awareness programs, the project has helped foster a sense of responsibility, increase community awareness, and spread human values among young people.
The project helps students better understand the harmful effects of plastic waste on the environment but also inspires concrete actions to turn waste into meaningful value for society. This is important in building a young generation responsible for the environment and community.
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