Children speak out in defense of their 'right to breathe clean air'.

Children and teenagers are the 'storytellers' of air pollution, sharing their observations, thoughts, and desires to live under a blue sky.

On December 13th, UNICEF Vietnam, in collaboration with the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) and the Department of Environment ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ), organized the exhibition "Cleaner Air, More Colorful Life," open to the public from December 13th to 21st at Cat Linh Metro Station, Hanoi.

The exhibition is the opening activity for the awareness-raising communication campaign of the same name, launched by UNICEF Vietnam from the end of September 2025.

Teenagers participate in the Photovoice project as part of the exhibition "Cleaner Air, More Color in Life". Photo: Kieu Chi.

Clean air is a fundamental right for every child.

UNICEF Vietnam, together with the Government and partners, has launched the "Cleaner Air, More Colorful Life" campaign to raise awareness of the negative impacts of air pollution on children and to call for collective action.

According to Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, more than 2 billion children globally are breathing air that does not meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Sadly, this is also happening in Vietnam. Approximately 13 million Vietnamese children, particularly those living in large urban areas like Hanoi, are breathing air that is detrimental to their health.

"More than paintings or photographs, this exhibition is a place where children and teenagers can hear their voices. They are directly expressing their right to breathe clean air and are also an active force driving change," she said.

Silvia Danailov, Head of UNICEF Vietnam. Photo: Kieu Chi.

UNICEF has been a partner with Vietnam for the past 50 years and is committed to long-term sustainable actions. In the short term, the organization is working together to address the causes of air pollution through raising awareness, changing behaviors, promoting environmentally friendly waste recycling, encouraging the use of public transport instead of polluting vehicles, and reducing emissions.

In addition, the UNICEF Representative in Vietnam also informed that mitigating the impact of air pollution can also be achieved through the creation of green spaces, such as in hospitals and schools, to protect children, vulnerable groups, and pregnant women from negative effects.

UNICEF is conducting research, collecting data and evidence to clarify the impact of this situation on the lives and rights of children, and is working with policymakers to develop appropriate policies, regulations and standards so that the whole society can urgently address the issue together.

Cleaner air, healthier life.

The exhibition features visual installations and interactive activities reflecting the impact of air pollution. Nearly 800 photographs, created by children and teenagers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City using photovoice storytelling, capture their daily lives, studies, playtime, and feelings about air pollution.

Ms. Le Thai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health), shared her views on the impact of air pollution on children's development. Photo: Kieu Chi.

From a healthcare perspective, Ms. Le Thai Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention, stated that air pollution seriously affects children's health, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Children are among the groups most severely affected by air pollution, as they breathe faster and inhale a larger volume of air relative to their body size. Their lungs, brains, and other organs are still developing, and their immune systems are not yet fully mature.

"Even a slight increase in PM 2.5 fine dust concentration can lead to a rise in the number of children hospitalized due to acute respiratory infections. Prolonged exposure to polluted air can also affect children's brain development and increase their risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease," Ms. Ha shared.

Taking place amidst a backdrop of continuously alarming air quality levels in many localities, the exhibition conveys a powerful message: cleaner air means safer, healthier lives for children and for everyone.

The exhibition also showcased winning initiatives from UNICEF's online competition for children, which received nearly 200 creative ideas aimed at improving air pollution. These initiatives demonstrated the creativity, initiative, and responsibility of children in building a healthier living environment for themselves, their families, schools, and communities.

The "Cleaner Air, More Colorful Life" campaign will be implemented over the next five months, aiming to call for action from managers, partners, as well as children and young people themselves. By April 2026, UNICEF Vietnam will hold a concluding event to assess the overall impact, acknowledge the collective efforts, and call for stronger commitments to protect clean air.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/tre-em-len-tieng-bao-ve-quyen-hit-tho-khong-khi-trong-lanh-d789174.html