Young man spends his entire youth clearing rubbish

From a volunteer spirit

When we attended the 6th Clean Up Vietnam Campaign 2024 at Chu Van An Park in Thanh Tri District, we were surprised by the impressive army of over 1,000 volunteers from the Hanoi Green Community. Everyone wore shirts printed with the national flag, wrapped in checkered scarves, and brimming with enthusiasm to "defeat rubbish".

We easily spotted the young leader, Hoang Manh Quan, arranging the teams and outlining the plan before beginning the campaign. Quan explained that the 6th Clean Up Vietnam Campaign was taking place nationwide across the 63 provinces and cities as well as the islands of Vietnam with the participation of approximately 100,000 volunteers, with the Hanoi location recording over 1,000 volunteers.

Before clearing rubbish, Quan provided instructions on the collection process. Volunteers were equipped with gloves, sacks, metal tongs and assigned specific areas in the park to clean. Organic waste was processed on-site by burying it in planters, while inorganic waste was taken for disposal or recycling. "After the campaign, Hanoi Green collected 8 tonnes of rubbish and planted an additional 150 trees in the park. Other parks previously cleaned by Hanoi Green include Mo Lao Park, and Mai Dich Park," said Quan.

Hoang Manh Quan was born in 1996 in Phuc Tho District on the outskirts of Hanoi. Even whilst still at school, Quan yearned to do something to contribute and help improve society. He began with activities such as voluntary blood donation, participating in charity trips in mountainous provinces, green summer campaigns, and environmental clean-up initiatives.

After completing high school, Quan registered as a member of the Hanoi Youth Blood Donation Association and actively participated in blood donation campaigns. Notably, Quan has donated whole blood 19 times to help save patients. In 2017, Quan and his friends co-founded the Charitable Heart Club and implemented several charitable programmes.

Members of the Hanoi Green Community clear rubbish at Cau Giay Park.

To a love for the environment

Quan explained that his love for the environment partly stems from the example and advice of President Ho Chi Minh regarding the environment. Uncle Ho often called on citizens to care for the living environment so that "the road from socialism to communism becomes greener" — as quoted from a speech to young people at Thong Nhat Park on February 5, 1961.

Inspired by Uncle Ho's teachings about the environment, the events Quan organised gradually gained recognition in the community. Specifically, after the Vietnam Green Community was established in 2019, Quan was entrusted with the role of leader of the Hanoi Green Community. "Initially, Hanoi Green had only a few dozen members, but I actively developed and recruited new volunteers, and now we have over 3,000 volunteers," Quan shared.

As the leader of the Hanoi Green Community, Quan has organised, coordinated and led environmental clean-up operations across Hanoi. To date, Hanoi Green has organised and coordinated nearly 50 environmental clean-up activities across the capital with over 10,000 volunteer participants, processing approximately 50 tonnes of rubbish, primarily in parks and public recreational areas.

During International Women's Day and Vietnamese Women's Day, the Hanoi Green Community pays special attention to a unique group — the female environmental workers who maintain the capital's beauty daily. "We present flowers, gifts, and offer congratulations and encouragement to these ladies in the flickering streetlights at night. They truly deserve recognition for their quiet, tireless work in hazardous conditions preserving the capital's green environment," Quan shared.

In October 2024, Quan launched a campaign to provide support to residents affected by Typhoon Yagi in in Cao Bang and Lao Cai Provinces, which included 500 jars of sesame salt, 2 tonnes of rice, 1,000 bottles of clean water, 3,000 notebooks, 200 blankets, medicine, and 50 bags of clothing delivered directly to the locals. In the capital, Quan organised programmes providing late-night meals and warm blankets for the homeless. Additionally, Quan also participates in an initiative that has delivered 7 bookcases, with over 4,000 books, to 3 provinces — Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai.

Green initiatives

Not content with simply clearing rubbish, Quan understands that this only addresses the symptoms. To tackle the root cause of waste, more fundamental, comprehensive measures are necessary. Therefore, each Hanoi Green campaign includes an environmental protection awareness initiative that spreads throughout the community.

Hanoi Green has implemented many awareness programmes, with the largest attracting nearly 1,500 volunteers for an environmental clean-up on World Environment Day (June 5) in 2023. By combining awareness with action, these communication activities consistently attract large numbers of students from the capital. Additionally, Hanoi Green aims to replicate a model where each citizen of the capital city becomes a "rubbish warrior" and each neighbourhood becomes an environmental protection team, promoting source separation of waste and recycling to reduce single-use plastics.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Director of Vietnam Green Community, said: "Hoang Manh Quan has worked alongside the Vietnam Green Community for the past 5 years, since the Hanoi Green Community was established with Quan as its leader. Quan has organised many meaningful environmental activities such as rubbish collection, waste sorting, exchanging rubbish for gifts and spreading environmental awareness to the community. Quan has continuously innovated and organised activities to attract thousands of volunteers. Thanks to Quan's enthusiasm and dedication, the environmental protection movement in Hanoi has spread widely, bringing many positive values to the community.”