From awareness to action

“I know we shouldn’t use too many plastic bags or plastic cups, but everyone around me uses them, teacher. I don’t want to be different.”

These were the words of a student during an experiential learning session on climate change at Hong Duc University in Thanh Hoa Province, as recounted by Le Thi Huong, a lecturer at the university’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environment and an educator at its Climate Change Education Center.

Immediately after the student shared these thoughts, another student spoke up: “Then let’s invite more friends to do it together, teacher! If more people do it, it won’t be different anymore!” This brief exchange has stayed with Huong throughout her three-year journey working alongside students at the center. In her view, children sometimes do not lack knowledge about climate change; rather, they need greater confidence and companions to support them in taking the first steps towards change.

Le Thi Huong, lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture and Environment and educator at the Climate Change Education Center, Hong Duc University. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

These experiential learning sessions at the Climate Change Education Center have provided students with opportunities to gradually develop that confidence. Rather than simply listening to and memorizing information, students take part in games, group discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and activities in which they present and defend their views on environmental issues. Those who are initially hesitant gradually become more enthusiastic and actively debate the effectiveness of different solutions, while working together to find ways to change habits that are harmful to the environment.

What impresses Huong most is the shift from awareness to action. Students no longer stop at knowing what they should do; they begin to consider what they can do, how they can do it, and how to encourage those around them to participate. Actions such as saving electricity, limiting the use of single-use plastics, and working with friends on green initiatives have become ways for students to put what they learn in the classroom into practice in their daily lives.

Students take part in experiential learning activities at the Climate Change Education Center. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

These changes are among the outcomes of the project “Enhancing climate change resilience for children and communities through climate education and afforestation in Thanh Hoa Province.”

The project established and launched the Climate Change Education Center at Hong Duc University in 2024. It also developed a five-volume climate change education curriculum combining foundational knowledge, locally relevant educational content, experiential activities, and integrated thematic modules within the general education curriculum. The center’s experiential learning programme was assessed by the School Design Research Institute under the Ministry of Education and Training for its alignment with the 2018 General Education Curriculum.

Students participate in experiential learning activities at the Climate Change Education Center. (Photo: SCI)

According to the project’s final report, by the time the project was handed over, more than 5,000 student participations from over 110 upper-secondary school classes had been recorded in learning and experiential activities at the center. In addition, more than 6,000 student participations from Hong Duc University had been recorded in climate change education through over 60 classes of the course “Introduction to climate change.”

Evaluation results showed that 59% of the students surveyed reported increased knowledge and awareness of climate change, while 80% were satisfied or very satisfied with the course. Notably, 93.9% of the students assessed had proactively taken at least one environmental protection action after participating in the programme. Common actions included saving electricity, reducing the use of plastic bags, and sharing knowledge with people around them.

The project also established a core climate change club comprising 20 students from schools and universities. Its members helped develop and organize four campaigns and 11 communication events, attracting more than 8,000 student participations. Through accessible activities such as reducing plastic waste, sorting rubbish, conserving electricity and water, and sharing knowledge about climate change, they helped spread positive changes in schools and communities.

Le Hoang Ba Huyen, Rector of Hong Duc University. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Le Hoang Ba Huyen, Rector of Hong Duc University, said the center had created additional opportunities for school and university students to gain knowledge through hands-on experience. Following the handover, the university will continue operating the center, making full use of its educational resources and established activities, while strengthening ties with general education schools to bring climate change education to more students.

Restoring the Ben En ecosystem

Alongside its climate education component, the project also carried out forest planting activities in Ben En National Park, contributing to the restoration of the semi-inundated ecosystem along the shores of Song Muc Lake and enhancing resilience to climate change.

During the 2024-2026 period, the project supported the pilot planting and care of 44,440 cajuput trees across 10 hectares of semi-inundated land around Song Muc Lake.

Cajuput trees are capable of adapting to waterlogged conditions. Their planting is expected to help curb the spread of Mimosa pigra, an invasive alien plant species, while reducing erosion and sediment accumulation in the lake, protecting water resources, and restoring the ecological landscape.

Le Cong Cuong, Director of Ben En National Park. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Le Cong Cuong, Director of Ben En National Park, the area features distinctive evergreen tropical forests and wetland ecosystems that provide habitats for numerous wildlife species, including migratory birds from Northeast Asia. However, climate change is posing significant challenges to ecosystem stability and biodiversity in Ben En National Park.

Forest planting in the semi-inundated area is therefore intended to expand tree cover, help restore habitats, and support nature conservation efforts. The restoration of vegetation also creates conditions for improving habitats for aquatic animals, migratory birds, and other species.

According to Cuong, a notable feature of the project is the link it establishes between ecosystem restoration activities in Ben En National Park and the climate education programme at Hong Duc University. This connection gives students opportunities to gain first-hand insights into conservation work and better understand the relationship between human actions and the protection of natural resources.

The handover and closing ceremony for the project “Enhancing climate change resilience for children and communities through climate education and afforestation in Thanh Hoa Province” was held on October 14. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The project's handover and closing ceremony, held in Thanh Hoa Province on October 14, marked the transition from the implementation phase supported by the project to a new phase in which local partners will continue managing and building on its achievements. Under the plan, Hong Duc University will be responsible for maintaining the Climate Change Education Center, continuing to use its educational resources, and expanding experiential learning activities. Ben En National Park will continue monitoring, caring for, and protecting the planted cajuput forest area to ensure that the ecological restoration outcomes are sustained in the years ahead.

Le Van Cuong, representative of the project management board, presents the project’s results at the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Chae Jeewon, representative of Save the Children Korea, said the project’s most significant achievement was laying the foundation for children and young people to become not only beneficiaries but also active participants who organize and promote climate change response activities. Save the Children Korea played a connecting role, bringing Hyundai Engineering together with Save the Children Viet Nam, Hong Duc University and Ben En National Park, thereby combining corporate resources with expertise in education and ecosystem conservation.

She emphasized that the key to sustainability was not extending external support indefinitely, but strengthening the capacity and ownership of local partners. Hong Duc University’s continued operation of the Climate Change Education Center, Ben En National Park’s ongoing care and protection of the cajuput forest, and students’ continued promotion of climate action will help sustain and build on the project’s achievements after its completion.

Representatives of Hong Duc University and Ben En National Park receive the handover of the project’s outcomes. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Kim MinSeok, Head of Sustainable Development Management, Marketing Strategy Office at Hyundai Engineering, said that combining climate education with forest restoration not only encouraged young people to participate but also demonstrated the company’s commitment to protecting local ecosystems. Hyundai Engineering expects the Climate Change Education Center to continue operating effectively and strengthen its links with schools, while the forest planted in Ben En National Park is managed, maintained and conserved over the long term. In particular, the company hopes the project’s climate education model can be expanded across Thanh Hoa and other localities nationwide, helping promote climate change response efforts in Viet Nam.

Delegates visit the Climate Change Education Center at Hong Duc University. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Vuong Dinh Giap, Programme Director of Save the Children Viet Nam, building on the achievements to date, he hopes Thanh Hoa will develop a province-wide climate change education model involving local authorities, scientists, universities, general education schools and businesses.

“One of my dreams is that, in three or five years, we will return here to present a comprehensive province-wide climate change education model,” he said, expressing his hope that the model could also be expanded to other localities in Viet Nam and introduced internationally.

Save the Children International in Viet Nam is committed to continuing to connect partners and mobilize appropriate resources to support Thanh Hoa in realizing this goal.

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