By: vb4e
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On the morning of May 27th, For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) announced the “Youth for the Environment” project which gathered 8 talented young people, who came from different universities in Hanoi, to create a group named “Green Eyes”.
The “Youth for the Environment” project, established by VSF has overcome 82 candidates in the Asia-Pacific region to be in the top 13 initiatives successfully received funding from Asia Pacific Media Grant 2020 (Earth Journalism Network EJN) and BAC A BANK.
The project aims to increase youth participation in addressing environmental issues, as well as to create positive changes in government and business environmental policies for sustainable development. After many rounds of selection, the project selected 8 “Green Eyes” members, who are students from universities in Hanoi (Academy of Journalism and Communication, VNU School of Law, RMIT University etc.).The members will participate in the operation and development of social media channels to spread messages about environmental protection.
The group will also produce and edit media products, articles, images, video clips, graphics to raise public and stakeholder awareness and to promote environmental solution. As planned, the group aims to expand to 200 core members in 2020.
During the workshop, many exciting activities were organized. 8 members of the Green Eyes performed a skit which which was not only humorous but also invoked some sadder realities of the current state of affairs. The story concerned a young man and his dog (Lu) and depicted how their livelihood depends on scavenging at a landfill called Nam Son. They needed to confront a “gang of wicked brothers and sisters”, who spread harmful substances around the landfill to poison trees and crops and to lure people away. The climax of the skit started when the young master was beaten and Lu suddenly spoke in human language. Unfortunately, in the end, Lu was killed at the landfill, which made the young master deeply upset . The acting of these amateur artists was considered by the audience to be young, emotive, and engaging.
Nguyen Hai Phong, a student at RMIT University – Hanoi branch, also a member of the “Green Eyes”, said that many people thought what they did to the environment was not enough to harm it. Some argued that the protection action for the environment is the responsibility of the government. Therefore, the project will be an opportunity to connect young people who admire the responsibility to protect the environment.
“Although it has just come into operation, the project has received attention from many people. We hope there will be more students joining the group” – Phong added.
At the launching ceremony, the project also received lots of advice and contributions from national and international experts such as Ms. Do Van Nguyet – Director of Live & Learn for Environment and Community, Mr. Tran Van Mieu – Vice Chairman of Vietnam Association for Conservation Nature and Environment, journalist Do Doan Hoang, and so forth.
Director of For Vietnamese Stature Foundation – Ms. Tran Thi Nhu Trang said, apart from the content issues, the project will focus on showing the methods of modern and youthful communication. Therefore, the message can be spread widely to touch the young generation
In the framework of the workshop “Youth for the Environment” project, a meaningful activity attracted many delegates and guests to participate. Delegates and guests will together stick love leaves which convey messages about environmental protection. Each leaf is presented as an environmental concern as well as a “green commitment” Green Eyes is the official fanpage of “Youth for environment” project. The project is run by VSF (Website http://vitamvocviet.vn, [email protected]).