City’s Green Summer Campaign starts

The opening ceremony of Green Summer Campaign, a volunteer program for students to help clean up the city, was held on July 12.

One hundred and twenty members of the HCMC Communist Youth Union (CYU) from District 6 and Hong Bang University joined hands together to clean up Tan Hoa channel, District 6. 
 
Scratches from debris, such as broken bottles, rotting dead animals and used syringes, barely had an affect on the students’ work ethos.
 
To Nguyen Huu Loi, a student who has participated in the campaign three times, the work is hard but is made easier by the telling of funny stories and conversation.
 
Meanwhile Tran Luu Ngoc Tinh, a newcomer to the campaign, believed that all his work was useful to society.
 
Besides work at the canal, some of them gave out fliers to call on local residents to keep the channel clean.
 
The clean up of the canal is expected to be completed in 10 days.
 
In Go Vap District, about 100 “soldiers” were quite busy making over 1,500 colorful pinwheels, which are gifts to be offered to local children at the upcoming “Ngay hoi tuoi tho” (Children’s Festive Day).
 
When SGGP asked about the campaign, the "soldier" Nguyen Hoang Minh Thu, said: “From early morning to now, we are carrying out some fun activities for the children from wards 8, 9, 12, and 14. Every time we see their happy eyes, we feel more passionate in our work and are more determined to finish all preparations for the event.”   
 
Meanwhile, in District 10, the campaign spirit keeps spreading.
 
About 20 “soldiers” appear at the corner of the streets, including Cao Thang – 3/2 and Su Van Hanh – To Hien Thanh to help traffic flow.
 
But, sometimes the work got tough.
 
Doan Minh Tuan, a CYU secretary of the district's ward 12, said: “Every time traffic jams occur, the “soldiers” have to move onto the streets and form a straight line to separate the traffic. This action makes their parents more worried and even met the upset objection from the parents. We must take a lot of time to persuade them to let their children return back to the work.”
 
Other work has been held in District 9.
 
The “soldiers” started cleaning the martyrs’ cemetery in Tan Nhon Phu B Ward.
 
The cemetery was bounded by dense clumps of grass and tombstones were stuck with mud, but the students have cleaned up the cemetery and planted trees.
 
In addition, the “soldiers” have also helped the building of two social houses at the wards of Long Phuoc and Phu Huu, by carrying like stone, sand and bricks to the building sites.
 
Talking about the campaign, Bui Ta Hoang Vu, chairman of the city’s Youth Union and head of the 2009 campaign, said: “The campaign has been run for sixteen years, with various meaningful activities for students.
 
“During the past years, the campaign always received a lot of compliments and love from the residents, both in cities and in the countryside. This is probably a wonderful and unforgettable memory for all those who participate in the campaign.”
 
The 2009 Green Summer Campaign will continue until the end of July, with various activities for social welfare in Central, Central Highland, Mekong Delta provinces and Laos.