From a battery recycling campaign and green living challenges to a marine waste collection boat, initiatives developed by students in Da Nang were showcased at a UNESCO regional forum in Bangkok.
On June 9 in Bangkok, Thailand, UNESCO organized a regional workshop as part of the “Sustaining Our Oceans” project to mark World Oceans Day 2026. The event, themed “Strong Marine Protected Areas for a Blue Planet,” brought together representatives from the education sector, biosphere reserves, teachers, youth, and partners from Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and Viet Nam to share experiences, lessons learned, and solutions for advancing ocean education across the region.
Nguyen Huynh Giao, a student from Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary School in Da Nang, presents environmental initiatives at the forum in Bangkok. Photo: UNESCO.Among the young participants was Nguyen Huynh Giao, a student from Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary School in Da Nang, who presented her journey of learning and taking action to protect the marine environment.
Growing up in the coastal city of Da Nang, Giao developed a strong connection with the ocean through environmental education activities organized by UNESCO and its partners. Through classroom lessons, school awareness campaigns, and experiential learning activities, she not only gained knowledge but also transformed awareness into meaningful action.
The forum was held in Bangkok to mark World Oceans Day 2026. Photo: UNESCO.Together with her teachers and classmates, Giao participated in several practical initiatives, including a battery exchange program that encouraged proper disposal of hazardous waste and a “7 Days of Green Living” challenge aimed at promoting sustainable consumption habits and reducing plastic waste. She also proposed a model boat designed to collect marine litter, helping spread the message of ocean conservation among students and the wider community.
“Before joining the project, I was very interested in environmental activities but did not have many opportunities to contribute. The project allowed me to learn, gain hands-on experience, and confidently develop ideas together with my friends,” Giao shared during her presentation at the workshop.
Beyond environmental campaigns, Giao has actively integrated ocean-related topics into her school’s extracurricular activities, participated in creating green spaces, and explored the impacts of tourism and urban development on local marine ecosystems.
At the event, UNESCO emphasized that ocean education is becoming increasingly essential as climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss continue to threaten marine ecosystems worldwide.
The “Sustaining Our Oceans” project, supported by Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., the parent company of UNIQLO, is being implemented in four UNESCO biosphere reserves in Thailand, Indonesia, and Viet Nam. The initiative aims to equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in marine conservation efforts.
In Viet Nam, the project is being carried out in the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve and the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve. Through educational materials and hands-on activities, the program helps integrate ocean education into schools, enhance understanding of marine ecosystems, and encourage environmental action at the community level.