About this project

Gen G for a Sustainable City, Blue Ocean is an action-oriented environmental education initiative that empowers adolescents in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, to become changemakers in their schools and communities. Building upon the success and lessons learned from the Green School Initiative (part of USAID's Clean Cities, Blue Ocean flagship program through collaboration with local government authorities with technical experties from Live & Learn Vietnam, which supported, trained, and consulted on Green School activities for six schools on Phu Quoc Island in 2023 - 2024), this upcoming project targets primary and secondary school students, teacher mentors, and local youth interested in climate action and ocean conservation. It promotes E-STEM learning and civic responsibility through a structured three-phase model.

Module 1: Educate to Inspire - This phase focuses on forming a core team of students and teacher mentors across local schools. Through interactive workshops, games, and experiential learning activities, participants gain a foundational understanding of plastic pollution, ocean health, and sustainable development. Tailored educational materials and game-based learning are used to enhance engagement and understanding.

Module 2: Innovate to Solve - In this stage, students collaborate with their mentors to design eco-initiatives that support the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) within school campuses or the surrounding community. Guided ideation labs, 2-3 field trip activities and mentoring sessions provide the necessary tools for participants to create practical, student-led sustainability projects that best fit to the school/community situation while enhance the feasibility approach and sustainability impact.

Module 3: Act to Impact - The final module brings ideas to life through funding mechanism. Youth-led initiatives such as waste sorting stations, refill water stations, recycling gardens using compost and reused materials, and community learning spaces are implemented. Events like clean-up drives, "trash-for-goods" campaigns, storytelling competitions, and social media challenges engage a broader audience, amplifying the impact.

The project uses a bottom-up approach to nurture long-term behavior change, civic participation, and environmental stewardship. It contributes directly to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

“Gen G” stands for Generation Green, symbolizing a new wave of youth committed to co-creating a sustainable city and protecting blue ocean ecosystems. With strong partnerships from schools, local environmental organizations, and previous project alumni, the initiative ensures broad outreach and replicability across other island and coastal regions in Vietnam

Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of the project is to empower adolescents in Phu Quoc to become informed, creative, and action-driven leaders in tackling plastic pollution and promoting environmental sustainability while fostering meaningful and sustainable initiative that benefit their community (School campus level/Community level).

Objectives:

  • Build environmental literacy and leadership skills among the core agents of change team: 50+ students and 15+ teacher mentors through Environemt-STEM and interactive learning.
  • Support the co-design and implementation of at least 10 student-led sustainability projects within schools or communities.
  • Promote waste reduction behaviors and increase community awareness through campaigns and eco-activities.

Intended beneficiaries are primary and secondary school students (aged 10–15), their teacher mentors, their schools/communities (Indirect beneficiaries), and youth volunteers in Phu Quoc.

  • Adolescents were chosen due to their formative influence and ability to drive change in both school and family settings.
  • Teachers serve as role models and institutional anchors for sustained environmental education.

The project draws from prior success with the Green School Initiative, using its proven methods to scale impact. Sustainability will be ensured through:

  • Capacity-building of local educators and youth leaders as agents of change;
  • Integration of project tools (e.g., educational kits, garden models) into school curricula for long-term impact and greater impact;

Potential for replication is high: the model is modular, adaptable, and cost-effective. Its success can inform similar youth-led programs across Vietnam’s coastal and island communities where marine pollution is a shared challenge.

Expected result

The project’s expected results are aligned with SMART criteria and reflect the project’s capacity for implementation and impact monitoring:

Specific

  • Direct beneficiaries: 50 students and 15 educators will be engaged & educated in environmental education and innovation.
  • 5 student-led sustainability initiatives will be co-designed and implemented that benefit at least 3000 students on the school campus. This might include 5 major school-level events/projects, and mini follow-up school activities (workshop, upcycling, education games) will be held.

Measurable

  • Pre- and post-activity surveys will assess changes in environmental knowledge, behavior, and leadership confidence among students.
  • Waste audits will track reductions in school/community waste (target: 1,000 kg diverted).
  • Engagement metrics (e.g., number of social posts, storytelling entries) will measure campaign reach (target: 5,000+ views/interactions).

Achievable

  • The team consists of experienced environmental educators and local NGOs with a proven track record in Phu Quoc.
  • Partnerships with schools and support from alumni of the Green School Initiative provide a strong operational base.

Relevant

  • The project addresses critical issues of plastic pollution in an island city, directly involving youth in meaningful, localized solutions.
  • It builds civic skills, fosters innovation, and strengthens intergenerational collaboration for environmental protection.

Time-bound

The project will be completed over a 9-month period in which 2 months for the early engagement phase, 6 months for implementing 3 modules aligned with the school year, in which module 3 has the longest timeline, as the initiative needs more observation and assessment to ensure the sustainability, 1 month for finishing MEL process (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning):

Monitoring Plan

  • Tools include baseline and endline surveys, activity reports, photo documentation, social media analytics, and partner feedback forms.
  • A dashboard (online or offline) with support from local social enterprise & Community organisation will compile data to showcase key results and success stories.
  • By the end of the project, students will have transformed from passive learners to proactive environmental advocates, equipped with knowledge, tools, and networks to drive change.
  • The community will benefit from increased environmental awareness, reduced plastic waste, and scalable youth-led initiatives that contribute to a greener, more sustainable Phu Quoc.
Partners
About me / organisation
Pham Huong Que

I am Pham Huong Que, a passionate youth committed to forging deeper connections between humanity and nature. Leveraging my background in environmental science and management, I have led interdisciplinary and systemic solutions. From wildlife conservation campaigns to plastic waste reduction projects, my approach integrates ecological, social, and economic dimensions to drive sustainable impact. My experience collaborating with local NGOs (Live&Learn Vietnam, CHANGE, WildAid Vietnam), international organizations (USAID, WWF, and embassies), and government agencies across multiple provinces in Vietnam has deepened my understanding of systemic change and community-driven development. I have spearheaded campaigns emphasizing community engagement, policy advocacy, and sustainable solutions, witnessing firsthand the power of collective action in tackling climate challenges. I am committed to translating scientific research into actionable, community-driven policies for environmental sustainability. At local NGO CHANGE & WildAid Vietnam, I developed science-based approaches to plastic pollution and wildlife trafficking, turning research into localized conservation strategies. As Project Coordinator for USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program, I led Phu Quoc’s waste management and plastic reduction strategy, engaging 3,000+ educators and students, influencing education curricula and tourism policies. With WWF Vietnam, I conducted waste flow analyses, co-developed SDG 12-aligned waste policies, and contributed to zero-waste city plans.
Besides, I am also youth leader, supporting youth advocacy (COY, RCOY, YOUNGO), I championing the integration of meaningful youth engagement. As a youth leader and country representative, I have actively contributed to global and regional platforms, serving as a Youth Consultant for the Youth 20 (Y20) Summit under the G20 in India and participating in the Regional Conference of Youth 2022 – Asia Pacific. Additionally, I served as the National Director of the International Student Environmental Coalition (ISEC), where I supported youth empowerment and acted as an NDC Ambassador, analyzing Vietnam’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with a focus on the roles of youth and women in climate action.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/que-pham-3446611b3/