Members of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union collected garbage and cleaned up a section of Lăng 2 Canal in HCM City’s Bình Thạnh District on March 19. — VNA/VNS Photo Thu Hương

HCM CITY — More than 1,000 members of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) of HCM City took part in the 148th environmental protection campaign Ngày Chủ Nhật Xanh (Green Sunday) on Sunday (March 19).

Speaking at the launching event, chairman of the Việt Nam Youth Federation in HCM City Ngô Minh Hải said the campaign aims to promote the role of youths, and encourage them to assume pioneering roles in protecting the environment and fighting climate change through small actions.

This year’s campaign is associated with the implementation of the city’s Youth Project "Sài Gòn River – The river in my city."

“It focuses on strengthening environmental protection activities, and promoting a green-living lifestyle,” he said.

Youth union members, including university students, local youths, soldiers and officers of the armed forces, will clean up Lăng 2 Canal in Bình Thạnh District, and a section of the North-South Railway running through Gò Vấp and Bình Thạnh districts, among other activities.

The campaign also calls on individuals, organisations and communities to join in collecting, treating and recycling garbage, especially e-waste and plastic waste; promoting waste classification at source; reducing the use of single-use plastic products; and planting more trees.

After the campaign launched, youth union members started cleaning up polluted canals and residential areas.

The campaign is one of various activities citywide to mark Youth Month in March. This year’s Youth Month themed "Youth pioneer the digital transformation" was officially kicked off in the city on February 26.

A number of volunteer programmes, organised by the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) of HCM City, will last until the end of March.

The youth union members have planted new trees along Võ Chí Công Street, and installed 14 new solar-powered public lights on Bưng Ông Thoàn Street in Thủ Đức City.

They have also provided free examinations and medicine to 200 local people at Thạnh Mỹ Lợi Residential Apartment, and presented 50 gifts to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNS