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Eco-warrior: Xen (middle of front row) bikes around Ha Noi on Sunday mornings to promote a greener lifestyle. — VNS File Photo |
HA NOI — Vu Thi Xen, 24, is the founder and face of an award-winning project to promote environmental issues among young people. Xen has devoted much of her youth to green issues.
The first time Xen understood the importance of environmental preservation was during an encounter with a club called Cycling for Environment.
Its purpose is to gather youngsters from all over the country to go on bike tours to raise environmental awareness, including global warming.
"My father was very supportive, but my mother was not so approving. She refused to believe that a petite girl like myself could ride a bicycle around the country," Xen said.
The first trip was a six-week journey from Ha Noi on June 29. It crossed 17 provinces and cities before finally arriving in HCM City on August 11.
Fifty young people took part down 2,000km of the legendary Truong Son Trail. Xen was the leader of the group.
"We all tapped into a mysterious spring of energy. We were cycling all day, every other day for six weeks," Xen said, "On average, we made 80km a day, 130 at our best. We woke up at 4.30 and were back on the bikes at five."
The group stopped at every villages on the way to talk with people, including many ethnic villagers, about issues, particularly the protection of rare wild animals.
"There were days when we talked to villagers till one or two in the morning. Even then, next morning we would get back on our seats for another long day of biking," Xen said.
"We slept in villagers' homes. We were shocked to see that people in parts of our country, such as Ta Rut Village, still have to go without a clean water supply, electricity or the basics of hygienic living."
The tour helped connect youth throughout Viet Nam to the cause, as well as planting the seed for more "green" cycling clubs in many areas, including HCM City, Da Nang and Hue.
The further Xen went, the more concerned she became for the environment in the country, a concern that last year earned her praise for her project to promote green issues among the young during Viet Nam Innovation Day, an annual event to promote new ideas.
Xen and other project leaders have held seminars on healthy living at various high schools and universities in Ha Noi.
Funded by the Ministry of Resources and Environment and donations from many charities, the project launched competitions in the capital city to popularise a greener lifestyle. — VNS