Anti-Plastic Day

2023Climate Change & Environment

Apr 25

Hanoi | G-Hope For Our Future | 2023

Xin chào!

We are G-Hope, a group of enthusiastic high school students in Vietnam who want our peers to know more about saving the environment.

15 – 17 years old
Ha Noi

The Right-Sized Problem

We saw that high school students in Phan Dinh Phung High School in Hanoi use way too many single-use plastics.

What did we do?

We took a stand on November 25, 2023 with the launch of Anti-Plastic Day. This whole-day event was dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring action, and creating a culture of sustainability among students and the community. We partnered with volunteers from other schools to conduct a series of activities throughout the day.

We set up a creative booth at the school gate that greeted our attendees and passers-by with our message against plastic. Visitors were invited to trade their plastic waste for plants and purchase eco-friendly containers at reasonable prices, encouraging them to choose more sustainable alternatives. Participants also breathed new life into old newspapers, used bottles, straws and carton boxes, transforming them into colorful handmade goods, showing the endless possibilities of recycling.

Online, we made our message louder by regularly posting on our social media page and creating an impact film that would be aired on national TV.

Campaign Impact

The impact of Anti-Plastic Day was seen not only during the event but even after; Students enjoyed the freedom to explore and pick activities they wanted to do, making our message easier to understand. Our campaign’s success reached beyond the high school, with the National Youth Union helping us publish our efforts in reputable newspapers.

The most significant outcome has been the mindset shift in our community. Students are becoming more conscious about single-use plastics, with many choosing more eco-friendly alternatives. Beyond students, our fight against plastic reached adults and younger children too, with families expressing support towards our advocacy. We also achieved a milestone in persuading the school management board to use glass bottles instead of plastic ones during school events.

Our message was heard loud and clear and we hope to make a difference in other schools in Vietnam too.