For two years, a “Little Squad” of children aged 6-15 has been cleaning up the beaches of Tam Ky, Quang Nam, inspiring the community with their dedication.
The young volunteers feel joy in their hard work, despite breaking a sweat.
At 5 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday, while many people are still asleep, over 20 children gather along the coast of Tam Thanh, a mural village in Tam Ky City, Quang Nam.
After team leader Le Dung (born in 1978 and head of Hoa Trung Hamlet, Tam Thanh Commune) hands out gloves and bags and assigns tasks to each member, the beach cleanup begins.
Le Dung explained that in 2022, noticing the accumulation of trash on the beach near his home, he came up with the idea of creating a "Green Kid Team" to promote environmental awareness in the community.
"This activity helps the kids reduce their screen time on phones and computers, encourages healthier routines, and nurtures a sense of social responsibility," Dung shared.
Starting with just six members, the team has grown to 21 members over two years, with the youngest being 6 and the oldest 15.
The children’s efforts not only keep the beach clean but also encourage locals and visitors to be mindful of the environment when visiting Tam Thanh Beach.
"Since the Green Kid Team started, the beach has become cleaner, and residents are more proactive in collecting and disposing of waste properly. Most of the litter now is washed up by the tide, not from locals littering," Dung shared.
Dung, a motorcycle repairman, and his wife, a seamstress, live modestly while raising two children. Yet, to encourage the young volunteers, Dung personally spends nearly 2 million VND each month to provide breakfast for the kids after each cleanup session.
Nguyen Nhuan Thao (12 years old), who was busy helping a friend carry a large trash bin washed ashore by waves, said, "I've been part of the team for two years. Every weekend, I go to the beach to pick up trash with my friends. I feel happy to contribute to keeping the environment clean."
Nguyen Hoang Dinh Cung (9 years old) proudly shared, "Today, I collected two bags of trash. Although it was tiring, seeing the beach clean made me very happy. I hope everyone will work together to keep it that way."
Truong Thanh Khoi, Chairman of Tam Thanh Commune's People’s Committee, told that the Green Kid Team’s efforts over the past two years have brought positive change to the Tam Thanh mural village beach. The children’s actions not only keep the beach clean but also inspire the community to protect the environment.
"Recently, the People’s Committee of Tam Ky City recognized and rewarded the Green Kid Team in Hoa Trung Hamlet for their environmental work. On holidays, the local government also provides small funds to support team celebrations. We are considering expanding this model across the commune," said Chairman Khoi.
The “Green Kid Team” starts their cleanup work early in the morning.
The children divide tasks among themselves to support each other in collecting trash.
After collecting, the trash is sorted and taken to a collection point for processing.
The youngest member - Nguyen Quoc Khanh, 6 years old.
Ha Nam