"Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" Contest

"Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" is a contest that has drawn great interest from teachers, students, and parents across Hanoi, largely due to its name, which strongly reflects the contest's theme of protecting nature and the environment.

This past March, the Cau Vong Tuoi tho publication of Education & Times Newspaper partnered with Trao Group Joint Stock Company and its brand Gieo – Wonderful Gifts from Seeds to launch the "Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" contest, with hopes that it will become an annual activity with far-reaching impact across schools.

The younger generation's growing interest in nature and the environment

The "Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" contest was specially designed for children aged 3–12 living in Hanoi, aiming to awaken the good seeds latent within the hearts of Vietnamese children.

After two months since its launch across Hanoi, the "Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" contest was highly praised for being timely, relevant, and effective in raising environmental awareness among young children. The contest attracted widespread participation, with 2,000 students registering for Round 1, 1,500 students receiving planting kits and sowing seeds at home, and 110 video entries submitted for Round 2. These impressive numbers affirm the younger generation's deep interest in environmental issues and community responsibility.

According to Mr. Le Nhu Long, Director of the Cau Vong Tuoi tho Branch and Head of the Organizing Committee, the "Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" contest is not only a creative playground for students, but also clear proof that the younger generation is increasingly concerned about nature, the living environment, and sustainable values. Through each potted plant, each moment of care and sharing, the children demonstrated an inspiring sense of responsibility toward their community and our green planet. It is hoped that from these small sprouts today will grow big dreams and beautiful actions in the future.

Praising the "Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" contest, Ms. Pham Thi Thu Huyen, Senior Manager of the Marketing Communications Department at Panasonic Sales Vietnam, said this contest is an excellent model for planting the first seeds in children's hearts about green living and a love for tree-planting and environmental protection. When children grow plants from seeds, they not only learn to protect the environment but also become little ambassadors spreading green awareness within their families and communities.

In addition, the program lays a solid foundation for future forestation and environmental improvement efforts. Every tree planted today helps absorb carbon and produce clean oxygen for future generations. Notably, hands-on environmental education helps children build sustainable green-living habits, which then spread throughout society.

Taking part in the contest, children across Hanoi received more than 1,500 Ô-Seed planting kits, marking the start of a journey to cultivate a love for nature and a desire to protect life. As a sponsor, a representative from L'Abeille Global shared: "Witnessing the moment the first seed sprouted, and hearing the children's joyful cheers; that's what motivates us to stay committed to a path of transparency and kindness."

A never-walked-alone journey of sowing seeds

Representing the school with the highest number of participating students, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Huong, Principal of Ngo Quyen Elementary School (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi), shared: "Our school always encourages students to take part in meaningful educational activities. Having so many students participate and win prizes motivates us to continue inspiring the younger generation to live beautifully and responsibly."

One of the 190 students from Ngo Quyen Elementary School who took part in the contest, Bui Anh Khang, a 5th-grade student (Class 5C), shared: "When my mom told me I had won first prize, which was announced on the Cau Vong Tuoi tho fanpage, I was so moved. I thought about the afternoons I spent sitting alone next to my potted plant, the days it just wouldn't grow… and I kept waiting patiently anyway. That prize felt like a thank-you from the plant itself - as if the little bean plant were telling me: 'Thank you for believing in me and never giving up on me.' I felt truly happy!"

Anh Khang's entry was a red bean plant, which he calls his "lucky bean." He chose the red bean because it's small and simple, yet holds a very strong will to live inside it. He planted the seed himself and cared for it little by little, from when it lay still in the soil to when it grew into its first green sprout. Every day, he watered it, placed it in a sunny spot, talked to it, and recorded each small change as if he were watching a miracle unfold. To him, it wasn't just about growing a plant, it was about nurturing faith and hope with his own two hands.

Anh Khang considers himself very lucky to have constant encouragement from his parents and teachers. His parents never did the work for him, but always stood behind him, guiding him on how to properly care for the plant. Whenever the plant got waterlogged or its leaves wilted, they reminded him to stay calm, find the cause, and never give up. At school, his teacher regularly checked in on him, and his classmates often came by to see how his bean plant was growing. Thanks to everyone around him, he felt he was never alone on his sowing journey.

Anh Khang loves environmental activities. He has previously taken part in painting posters, making crafts from recycled plastic bottles and scrap paper, and building a model of Hoan Kiem Lake out of twigs. Each contest is a chance for him to understand nature better and to learn about the small things people can do to help make the Earth a better place.

"I think the environment is like a quiet friend, always by my side, but if I don't take care of it, it will slowly grow weaker. I always try not to litter, to save electricity and water, and to plant more trees whenever I can. My parents often remind me: 'Live green, starting with the smallest things.' Once, my mom told me: 'A person who plants a tree is a person sowing hope.' I've never forgotten that, and I want to grow up to do many good things for our Earth!" Anh Khang shared about his journey of protecting nature and the environment.

It is hoped that not only Anh Khang, but all students, will always have someone by their side on their sowing journey, so that every seed they plant today becomes the foundation for a sustainable community tomorrow.

"Nurturing Green Sprouts, Sowing Happiness" is a contest that supports the goals of the One Billion Trees Project for 2021–2025, approved by the Prime Minister, while also fostering thinking skills and raising students' awareness of the importance of protecting nature and the surrounding environment.