Exhibition “Clear Air - Colorful Lives”: Children raise their voices for a cleaner air

Ha Noi, 13 December 2025 - Children and adolescents take on the role of “storytellers” in a unique photo exhibition on air pollution, sharing their observation, reflections and hopes for a future under a clear blue sky.

UNICEF Viet Nam, together with the Viet Nam Administration of Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health) and the Viet Nam Environment Administration (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), proudly presents “Clear Air - Colorful Lives” Exhibition, open to the public from 13 to 21 December 2025 at Cat Linh Metro Station, Ha Noi.

The exhibition aims to raise public awareness, inspire collective action, and amplify the voices of children. It also launches a series of public events, discussions, and engagements with children, young people, and decision makers to deepen understanding of the impacts of air pollution on communities, particularly on children’s health and well-being, and to support positive change and action-oriented initiatives.

Children are among the most vulnerable to air pollution due to their higher breathing rates and greater air intake relative to body size.  With lungs, brains and other organs still developing, and immune systems not yet fully mature, children are far more vulnerable to the harmful effects of polluted air. Air pollution severely harms children’s health by increasing risks of respiratory diseases such as asthma and pneumonia. Even slight rises in fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅) can lead to more hospital admissions for acute respiratory infections in children. Prolonged exposure not only affects brain development but also raises the likelihood of chronic conditions, including heart disease.

Taking place amid persistently alarming air quality levels across many localities, the exhibition delivers a powerful message: cleaner air means safer, healthier, and more vibrant lives for children and for all of us.

The exhibition features a series of visual works and interactive activities highlighting air pollution and its silent yet profound impact on children. A key highlight is nearly 800 photographs captured by children and adolescents in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City using the photovoice method, reflecting their daily lives, learning, play, and personal feelings about air pollution.

In addition, the exhibition showcases winning initiatives from UNICEF online contest for children, which received nearly 200 ideas aiming at improving air quality. These initiatives demonstrate children’s creativity, proactiveness, and strong sense of responsibility in building a cleaner environment for themselves, their families, schools, and communities.

Through these works, the exhibition highlights the silent yet profound impacts of air pollution on children’s health and well-being, while affirming their role as agents of change in their communities.

“Clean air is a fundamental right of every child. This exhibition shows that children are not just those affected, but also powerful and creative voices in protecting their own living environment. It also serves as a platform to promote dialogue, encourage community engagement, and inspire innovative solutions for improving air quality for every child in Viet Nam. We are also bringing this exhibition and children’s initiatives to policy makers and those in positions of responsibility to encourage dialogue and positive actions.” - Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam.

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Notes for editors:

The exhibition “Clear Air – Colorful Lives” is a key activity under the awareness-raising communication campaign of the same name, implemented by UNICEF Viet Nam since late September 2025. The event marks the completion of phase 1 of the campaign, as well as the beginning of a series of further events, discussions, and engagements with children, young people, and decision makers to deepen understanding of the impacts of air pollution on communities, particularly on children’s health and well-being, and to support positive change through the pursuit of practical and action oriented initiatives.

Activities will run through April 2026, when UNICEF Viet Nam and its partners plan to organize a closing event to review the overall impact of the initiative, honor the efforts of children and communities, and agree with decision-makers on the next steps and commitments  to addressing air pollution’s impact on children.