Young generation and the aspiration to build a smoke-free school environment

With a creative spirit and a desire to bring a healthy school environment, a group of students from Dinh Trung Secondary School, Vinh Yen Ward, successfully developed the project "AI - No Vape Life" - a community education platform to help prevent e-cigarettes and won First Prize at the 7th Student Startup Ideas Competition in 2025. The project contributes to spreading the message: "For your own health and the community's health, say no to e-cigarettes".

Ms. Dao Thi Hong Cuong, a History teacher who directly guided the group, said that in the 2024-2025 school year, she supported student Tran Minh Nguyet (class 8A6) in implementing the topic "Designing some tools to support propaganda and raise awareness for middle school students about electronic cigarettes". Although she won second prize in the city-level science and technology competition, Minh Nguyet still wondered how to make students not only "know" the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes but also really change their behavior. That question motivated her to find a way to combine technology with health education to create a stronger impact.

From the new idea, Minh Nguyet invited four more schoolmates including Le Tien Duy (9A3), Nguyen Phu Minh (8A5), Nguyen Nhat Minh and Phung Trong Duc (7A1) to build the project together. The working process required the whole group to balance study time, research AI and AR technology through online courses, and design survey and experience activities suitable for students' psychology. Thanks to the support of the Vinh Yen Department of Education and Training and the old Vinh Phuc Department of Education and Training, the group worked with technology experts, doctors from Lac Viet Hospital - who advised on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on the body, and Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhan Ai (Hanoi Pedagogical University 1) who advised on teenage psychology. From there, the project gradually formed a platform integrating AI and AR to serve e-cigarette prevention education.

Teachers and students of Dinh Trung Secondary School successfully developed the project “AI - No Vape Life” – a community education platform to help prevent e-cigarettes

“AI - No Vape Life” is built as a learning - interactive - experiential ecosystem, helping students visualize their own future when choosing to use or quit e-cigarettes. The application has many outstanding features, including AR visually simulating the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on organs in the body; AI customizes learning content according to the user's age and habits; interactive games and reward mechanisms create excitement; virtual doctors give advice based on personalized information. All aim to create a companion, not an “adult giving advice”. Minh Nguyet shared: “We want the application to be a mirror of the future so that you can see for yourself what is best for your health”.

After being highly appreciated at the provincial level, “AI - No Vape Life” was selected by the Department of Education and Training of Vinh Phuc (old) to participate in SV-STARTUP 2025 organized by the Ministry of Education and Training. Surpassing more than 770 projects nationwide, the product of the Dinh Trung student group excellently won first prize in the high school category, bringing pride to the school and the education sector of Vinh Phuc.

Principal of Dinh Trung Secondary School, Ms. Nguyen Cam My affirmed that this success comes from the persistent efforts of students, the dedication of teachers, the close companionship of educational management levels and the support of parents. Each member participating in the project worked seriously, responsibly and with enthusiasm.

More meaningfully, the application is currently being tested at a number of schools in the area and has received positive feedback. The project is expected to soon be integrated into the life skills education program, contributing to building a healthy lifestyle and preventing social evils in schools. The founding team is also expanding cooperation with businesses and non- governmental organizations to develop and popularize the product. Nguyen Nhat Minh - in charge of connecting partners said that there are currently 5 units that have agreed to join; the group also aims to establish a company in the future to exploit the application value more widely. This is a step forward that demonstrates the students' age-old thinking not only in technology but also in entrepreneurship.

It can be affirmed that “AI - No Vape Life” is not only the result of a group of middle school students but also a testament to the creativity, dedication and compassion of today’s young generation. Every young person who boldly says “no” to harmful things is conquering themselves and contributing to protecting the community. In the context of a digital society, creative educational models like this contribute to shaping a positive value system for the young generation, nurturing responsibility and civic courage.

Le Minh

Source: https://baophutho.vn/the-he-tre-va-khat-vong-xay-dung-moi-truong-hoc-duong-khong-khoi-thuoc-242996.htm