Faced with countless types of trash, sharp objects, pieces of pottery, animal carcasses, etc., many female volunteers from the Green Saigon Club (under the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Youth Union) still go down to the canal to clean up trash.
A female volunteer uses a rake to collect trash on Hy Vong Canal (Ward 15, Tan Binh District) on March 1 - Photo: NGOC KHAI
Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online , Nguyen Le Ngoc Tram (3rd year student - Van Hien University) shared that nearly two years ago, through social networks, she learned about the meaningful work of the Saigon Xanh Club - cleaning up trash on canals - so she registered to participate.
No fear of dirt
The first time she wore protective gear and gloves to go down the canal with lots of stinking garbage, Tram was a bit hesitant. However, the lively atmosphere of the volunteer group helped her dispel her worries. Everyone in the group chatted happily and quickly picked up trash to clean the canal.
Nguyen Le Ngoc Tram goes down to the canal to collect trash with a group of volunteers from the Green Saigon Club - Photo: Provided by the character
Up to now, Tram cannot remember the number of times she has participated in collecting trash. Even though the trash is sometimes animal carcasses, sharp objects, broken pieces of pottery, etc., the group is not afraid of getting dirty and does not feel tired. The support from the community is a great encouragement and motivation for the group as well as Tram herself.
"Seeing the meaningful work, I feel happy and attached. I hope everyone joins hands to protect the environment and throw trash in the right place" - Tram said.
According to her, each time they clean up the canal, there are usually 50-100 volunteers, with men and women almost equally. "Most girls are a bit scared when it comes to cleaning up trash, but I want to tell girls not to be afraid, come and try the experience of picking up trash and cleaning up trash once" - Tram said.
Have more friends who love the environment
Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh (3rd year student - Van Hien University) has participated in the Green Saigon Club for about 2 years. In the first 6 months, Quynh often went down to the canal to collect trash.
According to Quynh, before entering the canal, the volunteers all wore protective gear and received vaccinations. Due to the seriousness of the pollution, the group restricted the girls from entering the water, giving priority to the boys.
"There are girls who prefer to go down to the canal to collect trash instead of standing on the shore. I would like to thank you all and hope to have your cooperation and contribute to the journey of protecting the environment," Quynh said.
Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh goes down to the canal to collect trash with a group of volunteers from the Green Saigon Club - Photo provided by the character
Ms. Nguyen An Nhien (Go Vap District) said that she is currently an employee at a dental clinic. For about 8 months now, she has been participating in the volunteer group Saigon Xanh Club, collecting trash on many canals in many districts such as Thu Duc, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Tan, Go Vap, etc.
The first few days wearing protective gear, wading into the canal to collect trash, seeing dead animals, sharp objects, broken pieces of pottery, etc. along with the foul smell, she was a bit scared. After gaining experience and being more careful, that fear was gone. "When I joined my friends in cleaning up trash, I felt that their spirit of protecting the environment was very high," said Nhien.
Ms. Nhien shared that when she joined the volunteer group to clean up trash, besides the encouragement of the locals, she had more friends who love the environment as well as the support of her family.
"In some canals we returned to, the amount of garbage had gradually decreased and disappeared. People there were more aware, throwing garbage in the right place, and reminding people around them not to throw garbage into the canal anymore," she said.
Robots to collect trash are expected.
Mr. Nguyen Luong Ngoc - head of the Green Saigon Club - said that before wading through the canal to clean up trash, the club's volunteers were vaccinated (for tetanus, typhoid, cholera, etc.) and wore protective gear to reduce the danger.
To stop having to wade through canals to collect trash, Mr. Nguyen Luong Ngoc believes that first of all, we need to change the awareness of those who throw trash in the wrong places. Besides, we need to have replacement equipment and machinery.
It is expected that the Green Saigon Club will launch a trash-collecting robot to replace volunteers having to wade into the canal to collect trash.
Ms. Nguyen An Nhien and a group of volunteers from the Green Saigon Club clean up trash on the canal - Photo provided by the character
Volunteers from the Green Saigon Club in the area cleaning up trash on Hy Vong Canal (Ward 15, Tan Binh District) on March 1 - Photo: NGOC KHAI
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nu-tinh-nguyen-vien-dam-minh-don-rac-tren-nhieu-kenh-rach-o-tp-hcm-20250308123352005.htm
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