Not simply to raise awareness, it is to change behavior. After 3 years of operation, the project GetGreen Vietnam has been completed with its targets: to get 1,099 "Seeds of Change" persons trained, a contribution into spreading the habit "green consumption", "green living" in the community.

Pervasive "green living" behavior

With the strategy of "behavior change, not just to raise awareness," the Project selected its objects who are students, office workers and residents from 4 cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City Da Nang, Can Tho to train them to become "Seeds of Change". The modern approaches and new materials in both content and form are part of the training, such as activity deployment for links, discussion, organizing the realistic experiences, dissemination of information via websites, leaflets, short films. The "seeds" were inspired for changes in behavior, making it a habit of "green living" for themselves and those around them. After 3 years of operation (April 2012 - May 2015), the project has trained 99 additional "seed" as compared to the original targeted number.

Ms. Tu Thanh Tam (Can Tho) shared her viewpoint: "At first, when I reminded people to turn off the lights, also with notice notes stuck on the wall, to unplug the devices from the electrical mains, to reuse rice washing water, vegetables washing and dishes washing water for watering the plants, everyone in my family complained that I was "excessive in speech and behavior". However, when they saw the considerable decrease in the electricity and water bills each month (in October 2014, the bill showed 72 kWh of electricity, then in December 2014, it was decreased to 52 kWh), they got a real surprise. Since then, my family members have not only followed me but also gave guidance to other neighboring families for practice. "

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang (Hanoi) said: "Joining the Project, I have access to the methods that I think can be applied in my living quarter. As an officer of the ward, I was planning the establishment of environment lover club for women, which was where the women could gather to learn, exchange methods and practice for cleaning, making things beautiful, greening from her own home and then to the alley."

Dr, Marcel Crul - Representative of the Project Coordination Unit, said: "In May 5, 2015, the project was officially closed, but 1099 "Seeds of Change" will continue the mission to spread acts of "green living". Through them, thousands others will be inspired to act green. This is just the beginning. I believe that we can work together to promote more and more the Vietnamese people to acquire a "green living" in the future".

Making the community see the practical benefits from application of the solution "green living" is the approach that Project GetGreen Vietnam has applied and achieved initial success.

Accordingly, the project has completed the "Green Living Handbook" with 75 guidelines focusing on eight key themes: Smart Transportation, Green office, 3R in office, energy saving, domestic wastes, supermarket shopping, urban tenants, kitchen and bath with sustainability for training, instructions for community. The saving solutions are so practical but no less interesting, as they are shown in the handbook such as: For office work, equipment of irregular use should be hired, stationery which can be recycled or reused should be bought, printing on two sides of paper; for protection of the environment, let's use of public transport, cycling, car or taxi is used for traveling in groups; to save electricity and gas, the frozen food should be thawed before cooking, food should be let cooler before putting it in the refrigerator, to regulate the temperature from 27-28°C; turning off the electrical appliances when they are not in use.

The project  has also completed the training tool kit for sustainable consumption including training manuals, lifesaving pocket cards, the document with information and inspiration for  consumers. Shortly after the project is completed, the entire "Green Living Handbook" and the document will be published extensively so that organizations and individuals can access to use and apply in their lives.

Trong Tan