On November 23, 2025, at Da Nang University of Economics, a professional sharing session on personal development and project management skills was held with the participation of 30 young Environmental Leaders (ELs) from the University of Economics, Danang, and the University of Education, Danang.

The program took place from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., under the guidance and facilitation of trainers from the Center for Education and Development (CED). It aimed to equip young people with essential skills to become proactive agents in environmental protection initiatives, particularly in efforts to reduce plastic waste in Da Nang City.

Workshop’ Objectives

The workshop aims to enhance the overall capacity of young people aged 18 to 25 by equipping them with essential soft skills and project management skills, including leadership and teamwork, stress and time management, presentation and public speaking, information seeking and analysis, as well as effective communication and media skills.

In addition, the workshop focuses on developing goal-oriented planning skills and supporting participants in building concrete action plans to help reduce plastic waste discharged into the environment, contributing to the vision of a green and sustainable Da Nang.

Key Activities of the Workshop

1. Self-Discovery – The Foundation of Change

At the beginning of the workshop, participants took part in the ‘Self-Discovery’ activity, using the tool ‘Tree of Life’ to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and the factors influencing their leadership roles. This activity helped young people gain a deeper understanding of themselves, thereby building a solid foundation for personal development and engagement in community projects.

2. Be the Change

This was followed by a series of activities under the theme ‘Be the Change’, focusing on:

  • Who can be a change-maker in the community?
  • Approaches to addressing and solving social issues
  • Reflection on the role of standing up for rights and environmental protection
  • Practicing teamwork and handling real-life case studies

3. Identifying Issues and Developing Environmental Action Plans

A key component of the workshop focused on building participants’ skills in problem identification, goal setting, and action planning, based on real-world challenges related to plastic waste in Da Nang, including:

  • Issue 1: The widespread use of single-use plastic products such as plastic bags, foam containers, and plastic bottles, especially in the service and delivery sectors.
  • Issue 2: An uncoordinated plastic waste collection and treatment system, leading to plastic waste being landfilled or discharged into the environment.
  • Issue 3: Plastic waste from inland areas flowing into the sea, causing serious impacts on marine ecosystems.
  • Issue 4: Limited implementation of waste segregation at source, creating significant challenges for recycling efforts.

Participant groups applied the tool ‘Problem Tree’ to analyze causes and effects, thereby formulating objectives and proposing appropriate solutions.

4. Goal-Oriented Planning

This session focused on strengthening participants’ capacity to develop plans aligned with clear objectives, helping them translate identified issues into feasible and results-driven action plans. Through guided activities, participants learned how to define specific goals, identify key activities, allocate resources, and set realistic timelines, ensuring that their environmental initiatives are both effective and sustainable.

In the final part of the workshop, participants were divided into four groups, each focusing on a specific issue related to plastic waste. With guidance from the trainers, the groups developed goal-oriented action plans, ensuring feasibility, alignment with the local context, and practical applicability.

This activity enabled young participants not only to identify problems but also to proactively propose solutions and create plans to create positive change within their communities.

Connection – Action – Impact

The training workshop ‘For a Green Da Nang 2025: Enhance Personal Development and Project Management Skills’ was not merely a skills-training workshop, but also a space for connecting young people who share a strong commitment to environmental protection. Through learning, discussion, and hands-on practice, the Environmental Leaders were equipped with renewed motivation, knowledge, and tools to become active changemakers in the journey toward a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable Da Nang in the future.