Students plant trees to mark Green Hour

Every year, students at selected schools plant trees, collect rubbish or exchange plastic bags for compostable ones that are biodegradable.

Begun in January 2012, the activities are part of Green Hour, organised by the UNESCO Art and Education Centre.


This year, four cities and three provinces took part in the programme from the first Sunday in January through the first Sunday in May.

In Binh Duong Province's Thu Dau Mot City, students at Phu My Primary School and An My High School planted trees at neighbours' houses and at their schools.

Nguyen Hong Minh Nguyet, a fifth grader at Phu My school, said the students would be in charge of taking care of the trees.

"I'm tired, but feel very happy," she said, smiling.

Nguyet and her classmates have also visited nearby houses to plant trees in the gardens of local residents.

The principal of Phu My Primary School, Nguyen Trong Hien, said the best way for students to learn about environmental protection was involvement in activities like the Green Hour.

Nguyen Xuan Vui, father of fifth grader Thien Truc, praised the programme, saying that it had helped students develop good habits at an early age.

"As adults, our awareness of environmental protection is also improved through such programmes," he said.

Nguyen Trinh Cao Son, deputy head of the environmental protection division in Binh Duong Province, said similar programmes should be organised as the students were enthusiastic about them.

The Green Hour, which is part of UNESCO's Green Talk Project, is held on Sunday mornings.

Programme coordinators said that students who take part in outdoor activities serve as visual reminders to the community of the importance of environmental protection