(TVU) – On December 12, the Youth of Tra Vinh University in collaboration with the Center for Environment and Community Assets Development (CECAD) under The Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations organizes a workshop to summarize the project “Enhancing Communication Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change in the Mekong Delta – Phase 2”
Dr. Thach Thi Dan, Vice Rector of Tra Vinh University, shared activities to enhance climate change adaptation at Tra Vinh University.
Attending the program has Mr. Keijo Ensio Norvanto, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam, Ms. Maija Helena Seppala, the Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam, Dr. Thach Thi Dan, Vice Rector of Tra Vinh University, Ms. Le Thi Thu Huong, Special Advisor, Embassy of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam, Ms. Le Thi Van Hue, Deputy Director of CECAD, representatives from departments and agencies, and the Youth Union of Tien Giang, Long An, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang.
Mrs. Le Thi Van Hue, Deputy Director of CECAD, spoke at the conference.
The Embassy of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam has funded this project since 2020, aiming to minimize the impacts of climate change through an effective communication program and enhance the adaptation capacity to climate change in the Mekong Delta region.
Currently, the project has successfully completed Phase 1 and Phase 2, achieving significant results in raising awareness among officials, communities, and especially youth in areas heavily affected by climate change and saltwater intrusion.
During Phase 1, from July 2020 to June 2022: The provinces including Tien Giang, Long An, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Ca Mau organize an seminar titled “Water for the Mekong Delta,” a documentary film called “Freshwater for the drought and salty areas in the Mekong Delta,” an event named “Youth Footsteps Accelerating in 2022 – Adapting to Salinity Intrusion in the Mekong Delta,” a competition called “The Youth of Tien Giang with Innovations for Salinity Intrusion Adaptation,” four training workshops to enhance communication capacity for provincial, communal, and hamlet-level officials, and to improve the saltwater intrusion communication capacity for professional journalists in the Mekong Delta region.
During Phase 2, from July 2022 to December 2023: The provinces of Tien Giang, Long An, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang carry out several prominent activities. These include organizing five running races; creating and spreading 30 news articles and propaganda materials for the project’s activities; conducting five training sessions and five debating competitions on knowledge related to drought, saltwater intrusion, and climate change for students; five training sessions and five innovation competitions to enhance local knowledge and cope with climate change impacts. Through these activities, over 1,400 youth and students in accessing knowledge about drought and saltwater intrusion.
Mr. Keijo Ensio Norvanto, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland in Vietnam, giving the “Climate Honors Certicate” for Ms. Le Thi Van Hue, Deputy Director of CECAD.
Tra Vinh University conducts activities including: four training programs enhance awareness of environmental protection, climate change issues, and community actions in response to climate change; a running race with the theme “Enhancing Awareness of Drought and Saltwater Intrusion Adaptation in Tra Vinh Province” in 2023 has the participation of 1,000 students; a debating competition with the theme “Adapting to Climate Change in Tra Vinh Province in 2023” organizes for high school students in the province; the “Youth Innovation to Promote Local Knowledge on Climate Change Adaptation in Tra Vinh” competition in 2023 features over 20 innovative projects from participating student groups.
In general, the project activities have contributed to raising awareness among residents and authorities, enabling them to adapt effectively to saltwater intrusion and climate change. The communication activities have attracted widespread participation from the community and have widely popularized through various mass media channels, from national to local levels.
Leaders of Ben Tre Provincial Youth Union share about the role of youth in adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta.
During the conference, participants engages in discussions and shares their insights on the role of media in climate change adaptation, the role of youth in adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta region, and the potential for expanding project activities throughout the Mekong Delta region. They also discuss the advantages and challenges of scaling up the project model.
During the conference, to acknowledge the contributions of CECAD to the success of the project, Mr. Keijo Norvanto, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland to Vietnam gives the “Climate Honors Certificate” from the Embassy to CECAD.
By Ngoc Tram
