Teachers and students spread love for the marine environment together.

Outside of class hours, teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong joins his students in picking up trash on Dai Lanh beach (Khanh Hoa). Through these simple actions, he quietly spreads a love for the marine environment to his students and the community, contributing to keeping the coastline greener, cleaner, and more beautiful every day.

Lesson at dawn

Every Sunday morning, as the beaches of Dai Lanh are just beginning to see the first glimpses of fishermen bringing their boats ashore, a "team in green" quietly appears to pick up trash along the coast. These are the young members of the Dai Lanh Green Environment group, founded and led by teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong of Dai Lanh Primary School.

The Dai Lanh Green Environment Group picks up trash every Sunday morning.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

From plastic waste, plastic bags, and plastic bottles to fishing nets caught on the shore… all are patiently collected by the children and put into sacks. In just a short time, the sacks are full before the sun even rises. For nearly four years, those innocent smiles have regularly appeared on Dai Lanh beach every Sunday morning.

According to teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong, Dai Lanh is one of Vietnam's most beautiful beaches, attracting many tourists, but also facing an increasing amount of waste. Witnessing the trash washed ashore by the waves during his morning runs, he was always concerned and hoped to contribute a small part to keeping the beach cleaner and more beautiful.

Bringing this concern into the classroom, teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong often tells his students stories about protecting the marine environment, receiving enthusiastic responses from them. After discussing with parents, he decided to establish the Dai Lan Green Environment group with some students on September 25, 2022. Since then, regularly at 5 a.m. every Sunday, the members gather on the beach to pick up trash together.

The group's reward after each session was a huge pile of trash.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

"Lessons about cleaning up trash or protecting the environment aren't in the school curriculum, but I believe these experiences will stay with the children throughout their lives. I hope they develop an awareness of environmental preservation, dispose of trash properly, and know how to do things that benefit 'Mother Earth.' When they change, that image will also influence their families and everyone around them to think more about protecting the environment," Mr. Phong shared.

Gradually, the number of students participating in the Dai Lanh Green Environment group grew, turning each Sunday morning cleanup into a special "practical class" on the beach. Teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong said that choosing 5 a.m. not only helps students pick up trash but also helps them develop the habit of waking up early and improve their health.

“Initially, some students weren't used to waking up so early, but seeing their friends enthusiastically participating, they decided to join as well. To date, the group has about 45 members. Every time we go out, they arrive very punctually and have a high level of self-discipline,” Mr. Phong said.

When asked about parents' opinions on the group's activities, Mr. Phong said that initially many parents were hesitant, worried about the impact on their children's studies. However, after a period of activity, the children maintained good academic performance and learned how to handle waste at home, which convinced many parents. Many parents even joined their children in picking up trash, while some provided breakfast for the whole group, creating a very close-knit and loving atmosphere.

Teacher Phong organized birthday parties for the children to foster a sense of togetherness and sharing within the group.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

Preserving the blue color of the sea

To ensure safe and convenient waste collection, teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong prepared all necessary items including tongs, gloves, sacks, and uniforms for the team members. He also instructed the students to sort waste at the source: organic waste was collected to decompose naturally, while inorganic waste was collected and taken for processing.

Every week, the Dai Lanh Green Environment group regularly goes out to clean along the coastline, even on rainy days. "Once, while the whole group was picking up trash, it suddenly started raining heavily. Everyone, both teachers and students, got soaked, but they were all very happy because they felt that what they were doing was meaningful," Mr. Phong recounted.

Among the members, Ngo Bao Chau left a particularly strong impression. Having joined from the very beginning when she was just over two years old, Bao Chau was brought along by her mother to pick up trash with the other children. Now, she participates regularly on her own without needing her mother to take her.

Ngo Bao Chau shared that she felt very happy to join others in picking up trash because she could contribute to making the beach cleaner and more beautiful. "Our teacher always reminds us to be careful when picking up trash and that even young children can do things that are beneficial to the community," she said.

The simple activities of the Dai Lanh Green Environment group have gradually spread inspiration to many people around them. Many adults, witnessing the children diligently picking up trash, have been reminded to be more conscious of protecting the environment. Once, a French tourist taking a morning stroll came across the children cleaning up trash along the beach. He stopped to chat, took photos, and shared them on social media with the caption: "Vietnam is truly beautiful, not only in its nature but also in the humble people here."

Teacher Phong and his students planted coconut trees along Dai Lanh beach.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

Besides picking up trash, the Dai Lanh Green Environment group also plants and cares for rows of coconut trees along the beach. The young coconut trees, brought by teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong, are planted, watered, and monitored daily by the members themselves as they grow.

To date, the group has organized approximately 150 cleanup campaigns, including during holidays, in coordination with youth union members to clean beaches and embankments. In addition, they participate in recycling plastic waste into household items and respond to various activities such as Earth Hour and World Environment Day, aiming to foster environmental awareness through even the smallest actions.

Teacher Phong and his students at the graduation ceremony for the 2024-2025 school year.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

Recently, teacher Nguyen Thanh Phong won third prize in the "Green Fields, Clean Air 2025" competition with his essay "No burning of straw - preserving the green of the fields, preserving the breath of our homeland." For Mr. Phong, every small action of his and his students stems from a genuine love for the environment.

"I don't take attendance or give rewards or punishments, but the children always arrive on time and are very enthusiastic. Some of them are so young that if they can't come, they cry, which is very cute," Mr. Phong recounted.

In the future, he hopes to expand the beach cleanup activities to more nearby beaches and attract more people to participate. "I hope that every village and every school will have a 'green team' to spread awareness of environmental protection, helping to make Vietnam's beaches cleaner and more beautiful," he shared.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thay-tro-cung-lan-toa-tinh-yeu-moi-truong-bien-185260524220010705.htm