Towards a community that says no to e-cigarettes

With creative thinking, innovation and enthusiasm, a group of students from Dinh Trung Secondary School (Vinh Yen) used technology to raise awareness and change students' behavior in the face of the increasing number of e-cigarettes in schools. Their journey bore fruit when they successfully implemented the project "AI - No Vape Life" - a project to build a community education channel to say no to e-cigarettes, winning first prize at the 7th Student Startup Ideas Competition in 2025; spreading the message "For your own health and the community's, say no to e-cigarettes".

A group of students practice presenting the project “AI - No Vape Life”. Photo: Tra Huong

As the person who directly guided the group of students to carry out the project "AI - No Vape Life", Ms. Dao Thi Hong Cuong, History teacher of Dinh Trung Secondary School, said: "At the beginning of the 2024 - 2025 school year, I guided Tran Minh Nguyet, class 8A6, to carry out the project "Design some tools to support propaganda and raise awareness for secondary school students about electronic cigarettes" and won second prize in the Science and Technology competition for high school students at the city level.

The project has contributed to raising awareness about e-cigarettes among secondary school students, but Minh Nguyet still worries about how to make students not only "know" but also "really change" their behavior, saying no to e-cigarettes?

From that concern, Minh Nguyet came up with the idea of ​​combining modern technology with health education to directly impact the emotions, perceptions and behaviors of students.

Minh Nguyet contacted 4 classmates: Le Tien Duy, class 9A3, Nguyen Phu Minh, class 8A5, Nguyen Nhat Minh and Phung Trong Duc, class 7A1 to carry out the project together.

During the implementation process, the team had to balance study and research time; proactively learn new technologies - Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR) through online courses; innovate research and survey methods to create excitement for students; diligently exchange and discuss to adjust suitable products...

Along with that, with the support of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh Yen City and the Department of Education and Training, the group connected with experts to support technology, doctors from Lac Viet Hospital to provide in-depth advice on human body structure and the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhan Ai ( Hanoi Pedagogical University 1) to support teenage psychology. Thanks to that, the group has built an educational platform applying AI and AR.

“AI - No Vape Life” is a learning - interactive - experiential ecosystem that helps students “foresee their future” if they use or quit e-cigarettes. The application integrates many impressive features such as AR vividly simulating the real-life consequences of e-cigarettes on the body as a visual warning.

AI personalizes learning content based on users’ age, habits, and psychology, increasing cognitive efficiency. Interactive games and rewards help students learn while playing, without feeling pressured. Virtual doctors provide advice based on user data, enhancing authenticity and personalizing the experience.

Minh Nguyet shared: “We do not want the application to become a deterrent but a friend, a mirror so that students can see themselves in the future. From there, students can choose what is beneficial for their bodies.”

Teacher Dao Thi Hong Cuong guides a group of students from Dinh Trung Secondary School to carry out the project "AI - No Vape Life". Photo: Tra Huong

“AI - No Vape Life” was quickly evaluated as one of the most typical projects at the provincial level and was selected by the Department of Education and Training to represent SV-STARTUP 2025 organized by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Surpassing more than 770 competitors nationwide, the project "AI - No Vape Life" won the first prize in the high school category, bringing honor and pride to Dinh Trung Secondary School in particular and the Vinh Phuc Education and Training sector in general.

Teacher Nguyen Cam My, Principal of Dinh Trung Secondary School affirmed: “This success is thanks to the students’ constant creative efforts, the dedicated guidance of teachers; the great care and support from the City Department of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training. In addition, the parents of the students always accompany and actively support. Each member works with a professional, responsible and loving spirit.”

More importantly, the project is being tested in a number of schools in Vinh Yen city and has received positive feedback from teachers, parents, and students. The application is expected to be deeply integrated into life skills education programs, preventing and combating school social evils, contributing to shaping a healthy lifestyle for the younger generation.

The founding team is also promoting cooperation with businesses and non-governmental organizations to commercialize and replicate the product.

As the person in charge of connecting partners, Nguyen Nhat Minh shared: “We have contacted businesses and non-governmental organizations to invite them to join us. Currently, there are 5 units that have agreed to support product development such as Hiber Word Company, FDI... In the future, we plan to establish a company to exploit the value of the application on a large scale.”

This is not only a step forward in terms of products, but also a mindset beyond middle school age in the field of economics and entrepreneurship skills.

Head of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh Yen City Nguyen Thi Kim Chung shared: “The project “AI - No Vape Life” of the students not only impressed by its technology, but also by its humanistic depth. In a digitalized society, creative educational models will play an important role in reshaping the system of positive life values ​​for the young generation, helping them gradually mature to become excellent students and responsible citizens to the community”.

“AI - No Vape Life” is not only a startup project of high school students but also a strong affirmation of the young generation, they are creative enough, brave enough to change, and compassionate enough to spread good values.

When a young person says “no” to harmful things, it is their own victory and the victory of the whole community. A smoke-free community is being nurtured and cultivated by young hearts, with intelligence, innovative thinking and the desire to live a positive and compassionate life.

Minh Huong

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/127517/Huong-toi-mot-cong-dong-noi-khong-voi-thuoc-la-dien-tu