Giving gifts in exchange for plastic waste

To help locals through the hard time due to COVID-19, the Youth Union members and young people in Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province have come up with an idea: Giving gifts in exchange for plastic waste in an effort to guarantee that “no-one will be left behind”.

 

Volunteering Saturday

 

On the early Saturday morning, at Khanh Vinh District Children’s House, Youth Union members were busy putting up banners, posters and setting tables and chairs to prepare for delivering gifts in exchange for plastic waste to the disadvantaged. Children and adults, mostly wearing face masks, stood in lines, maintaining a safe distance, holding plastic bottles and other plastic used things that can be recycled. Face masks were given for free to those without face masks.

 

 

 

 

36-year-old Cao Thi Men says her husband died 5 years ago, leaving 3 children with the youngest being 7 years old. She used to make a living from working from hire. She has lost her job during layoffs. Yesterday, she thought of making some money by collecting plastic bottles. However, when knowing about the exchange program, she brought in the plastic waste and received rice, instant noodles, fish sauce and even notebooks in return. She was so happy.

 

Before the pandemic outbreak, Cao Thi Vong, whose husband died nearly 10 years ago, worked at a rice shop and earned VND2.5 million a month. The shop was shut during the pandemic, putting her out of work. The gifts give her family enough food for a couple of  days.

 

Late in the morning, an old couple came there on a bike. The old man is sick, often absent-minded. His wife has lost sight after a serious disease. They are having a hard life, having to depend on their children. However, their children who used to work for hire, are also laid off due to the coronavisus crisis. The couple has to rely on gifts of food from others. The gift in exchange for the plastic waste can help them to partly tackle the present problem.

 

Sharing to get through the coronavirus pandemic

 

Cao Ngoc Thanh, Secretary of Khanh Vinh District Youth Union, has come up with the idea of giving gifts in exchange of plastic waste. COVID-19 has made life tougher for those already struggling, especially ethnic minorities. Besides, she has sown face masks and sought donations to gifts for the poor when seeing many locals without face masks, not fully aware of the pandemic. The district Youth Union has offered 800 gifts and 700 face masks.

 

Finding the meaningful deed of Khanh Vinh District Youth, Khanh Hoa Youth Union has cooperated with the Youth Union of Khatoco to donate 5 industrial sewing machines to make cloth face masks for local residents in the virus fight. Money, rice, instant noodles, fish source, books and notebooks have been donated as gifts.

 

Ca Tong Thi Men, Vice-Chairman of Khanh Vinh District People’s Committee says in the unpredicted situation related to COVID-19 pandemic, the program on gifts in exchange of waste has proved meaningful and creative. The district People’s Committee appreciates the Youth Union’s practical activities against the pandemic such as making hand sanitizer and propaganda against the disease in remote communities.

 

In the program, besides exchanging gifts for plastic waste, the Youth Union has also raised public awareness of the pandemic, offered face masks and given face mask and other hygiene practice guidance such as using soap, hand sanitizer, etc. The plastic waste will be sold for the charity funding purpose. More subscription will be raised and mobilized to support the charity program expected to take place across 13 communes in the district.

 

 

Ma Phuong

Translated by N.T