More than 2.200 people run to raise funds, contributing more than 2.400 trees to Can Gio mangrove forest
With the message "Each person participating contributes a tree", the event has contributed more than 3,000 trees to Can Gio Mangrove Forest. Previously, the 1st "Green Day Run" event of VAS in 2019 had brought 3117 trees, helping to "greening" the abandoned salt fields and expanding the area of Can Gio Forest. Currently, that small forest has grown well with the height of each tree from 1.6 - 1.8 meters.
VAS Green Day Run is one of the outstanding annual activities of VAS with the goal of environmental protection and sustainable development. The competition consists of 2 distances: 2.5km and 5km with specified awards for each category including: Fastest Men, Fastest Women, and Best Teams.
“Coming to the event today, we all have the same colour T-shirts, the same journey, the same starting point, and the same objective; which is educating, spreading, raising awareness, and sharing the responsibilities for environmental issues. I am delighted to see the exciting faces of all athletes, many of whom are our beloved students – they are young, and some are even just in kindergarten. Today, each of them decide to donate one tree to the forest but tomorrow they can build a whole one. That is also the educational mission that VAS has constantly pursuing, which is nurturing the civilized generation”, said Mr. Tarek Razik – CEO of VAS.
Apart from the primary goal of the fundraiser, VAS Green Day Run 2022 is also an opportunity for the VAS community who are interested in sports and share the same concerns for environmental protection to meet and connect with each other.
The Can Gio Mangrove Forest plays a very important role in environmental protection for Ho Chi Minh City and its surrounding areas. The forest is also designated by UNESCO as the first Mangrove Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam. Therefore, the conservation and development of Can Gio forest have become a particularly important priority for the whole community.
“I am very happy and proud that we were able to complete the race at 5km and join hands to contribute to the environment. This will also be a very beautiful memory at the final grade of high school for us”, said Nguyen Thao Ha, a 12-grade student at VAS Garden Hills campus.
Truong Cong Bao, a 4-grade student at Ba Thang Hai Campus shared: “It’s great to join this meaningful activity with my parents. It helps us to learn and love the nature and the environment more, and contribute to the protection of Can Gio Mangrove Forest.”
“Thank VAS for always having meaningful environmental activities to spread and inspire the spirit of protecting nature and the environment to students and the whole community. This is also a rewarding playground for families, helping to improve physical health, strengthen the bond between parents and children as well as the connection between the family, the school, and the community”, said Ms. Thanh Thuy, a parent of VAS.
Thank you parents, students, teachers, staff and partners of VAS for your companionship in the school’s activities, and see you in the next Green Day Run!
