Safe, Green and Clean Community

As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, Viet Nam faces serious threats to lives, infrastructure, and its national development. In response, the Viet Nam Disaster and Dike Management Authority (VDDMA), in collaboration with UNICEF Viet Nam, with support from the Government of Japan since 2021 has implemented the Safe, Green and Clean Community Initiative.

In 2024, the initiative took another step forward was its successful pilot in Thanh Thoi Thuan commune, Tran De District, Soc Trang province to empower local governments and communities—especially children—with knowledge and skills on disaster preparedness and responses as well as dynamic climate change threats.

Empowering Children Through Creativity
 

Painting contest

Among the many highlights from the pilot, up to 700 primary school students in Thach Thoi Thuan commune participated in the "Perspectives on Disasters" painting contest. Each artwork conveyed a vibrant message, raising community awareness on disaster risk reduction and spreading knowledge and readiness throughout the community.

“Through my painting, I want to send a message to other students to protect the environment and reduce the impacts of disasters. They can do small things to start, like not littering, planting trees, or learning about what to do when a disaster comes. This will help us build a safer and better environment,” 

Shared by Luong Ngoc Xuan Nha, Grade 5 student, 
Thanh Thoi Thuan B Primary School

Mural Painting and the quiz game

Extracurricular activities were a further highlight, such as the mural painting “Ready for Disasters and Climate Change” and the Ring the Golden Bell quiz game “Together in Disaster Preparedness – Building a Sustainable Future” for students of Thanh Thoi Thuan secondary school. This not only brightened the school’s landscape, but also helped students learn more about disaster preparedness and response skills.

“These activities helped us better understand disasters and encouraged unity to face challenges.”

Shared by Nguyen Yen Nhi, Thanh Thoi Thuan secondary school

Green Library on Disaster Risk Reduction

At Thanh Thoi Thuan secondary school a green library focussed on disaster risk reduction took shape with support from VDDMA and UNICEF Viet Nam. The library features more than 200 reference books, comics, life skills materials, and learning resources—making disaster preparedness and life skills information more diverse and engaging for students.

Community-Led Environmental Action

To raise disaster prevention awareness among residents in high-risk areas, VDDMA and UNICEF Viet Nam installed 20 warning signs at hazardous locations in the commune. Additionally, public awareness signs on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection were also installed. Furthermore, 60 solar-powered lights energy-saving, sustainable, and environmentally friendly—were installed in schools, health centres, and key evacuation routes and evacuation centres in case of disasters.

To promote community awareness and participation in maintaining a green and clean environment, VDDMA and UNICEF supported the planting of 300 flower trees along communal roads and organized a community-wide environmental cleanup campaign involving residents in clearing canals and roadside areas.

Impacts

Through the Safe, Green and Clean Community initiative, its activities have equipped children, students and residents with additional knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to disasters. Each student not only gained essential skills for self-protection, but also to actively contribute to disaster risk reduction, helping to build safer and more resilient communities.

#Safe #Green #CleanCommunity