Engaging Younger Generations of Vietnam

The co-hosted GAHP-VACNE’s nationwide Environmental Contest in Vietnam 2024 celebrated the final round in Hanoi in November 2024. The campaign fostered youth-led innovation aimed at sustainability and raised environmental awareness. 

The design and implementation of this contest have been accomplished through a collaborative effort with the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE), and funded with UK International Development from the UK government. 

The first-place winner, Tra Vinh University’s The Straw Wood project, repurposed rice straw into artificial wood.

The Straw Wood project, a lightweight, cost-effective alternative to natural wood, addresses deforestation and agricultural waste pollution while providing farmers with additional income. 

The second-place project, Journey of Straw from Hue City, transformed rice straw into eco-friendly products like paper, fans, and bags.

With outreach campaigns in schools and international recognition, the project promotes sustainable development and plastic waste reduction. 

Co-third place winners focused on eco-friendly pest control and health-focused innovations.

Xuan Giang High School’s Lyonel project developed natural pesticides using Chinaberry leaves, targeting pests without harmful chemicals. Meanwhile, Hoa Binh University’s D1 project explored rice straw as an ingredient in energy bars, reducing agricultural waste while improving community health.

The contest recorded 246,410 views and an 8% engagement rate on social media channels, with notable attention during the Social Impact round that encouraged public voting.

By bridging creativity, science, and community engagement, the GAHP-SOS Environment Contest inspires a new generation to tackle Vietnam’s environmental challenges with scalable, sustainable solutions.