“Civilized Saturday”: From small actions to big movement

On weekend mornings in Binh Duong, many people choose to step outside rather than start their day with personal relaxation. Armed with brooms, garbage bags, and iron tongs, they clean up the streets, care for trees, and help beautify the city. The "Civilized Saturday" movement is gradually evolving into a cultural hallmark, spreading from neighborhood to neighborhood, and from ward to commune, inspiring each citizen to participate.

Sowing seeds from specific models

Recently, in Quarter 2 of Tuong Binh Hiep Ward (Thu Dau Mot City), a noteworthy program has emerged to promote a cultural and civilized lifestyle: the "Beautiful House - Green - Clean - Beautiful Sidewalk" initiative. This model has not only transformed the urban landscape but also demonstrated the strength of community unity. Ms. Le Thi Thanh Loan, Secretary of the Ward 2 Party Cell, noted, “Our ward focuses on raising awareness and mobilizing each household to understand and commit to this program. When residents experience the practical benefits—such as clean homes, a fresh environment, and trees providing shade—support becomes increasingly stronger.”

Following the motto "slow and steady wins the race," Quarter 2 has seen encouraging results. Each household ensures their home is clean, plants at least one tree in front, and keeps the sidewalk in front accessible. So far, the quarter has planted over 3,200 new ornamental plants and flowers in 65 flower beds along Le Chi Dan Street and removed five illegal classified advertising signs.

In Tan An Ward (Thu Dau Mot City), Mr. Nguyen Duc Thien, Head of Executive Board of Quarter 5, has collaborated with the community to organize environmental cleaning activities. Every month, Mr. Thien and many residents clean streets such as DX 121, DX 122, and DX 125. These streets benefit from not only the removal of trash but also the greenery from the quarter’s tree nursery. Mr. Thien stated, “We have a nursery with over 1,100 trees. From this source, we propagate and plant trees along the roads. To date, we have planted many additional trees thanks to these efforts. We also encouraged residents to plant 560 trees and fruit trees of various kinds.”

In Phu My Ward, the program of "Green - Clean - Beautiful Garbage-Free Streets" is also showing effective results. Ms. Vo Thi Nhu Quynh, Deputy Secretary of Quarter 1 Party Cell, mentioned that streets DX 037 and DX 034 have become highlights of the urban environment. Residents have collectively signed a commitment, placed trash cans in front of their houses, and actively participated in regular cleaning efforts with the neighborhood association.

Bringing knowledge to every neighborhood

Not only focused on enhancing the environment, Tan Phuoc Khanh Ward in Tan Uyen City has initiated a "Dream Bookshelf" program to promote knowledge sharing. This initiative has been implemented across all eight quarters, with each quarter featuring a bookshelf containing a total of 323 diverse books, including those on life skills, law, culture, comics, and career guidance.

According to the Ward Fatherland Front, the program is actively engaging students and residents in reading, thus creating a knowledge-rich space at the heart of the community. Funded through social contributions, this model demonstrates effective community collaboration in nurturing dreams and inspiring creativity. The Ward Fatherland Front hopes that this initiative will not only provide access to books but also foster a reading habit among the local population.

In Hamlet 3 of Tan Hung Commune in Bau Bang District, activities such as cleaning, tree planting, and clearing bushes are organized regularly on a weekly and monthly basis. Recently, Hamlet 3 has successfully implemented a "Model Road" spanning 1,550 meters, with a budget of 10 million VND and the involvement of hundreds of residents. Additionally, the renovation of alleys, installation of lighting, signage, and security cameras have contributed to making the countryside more spacious and secure. These initiatives not only beautify the area but also strengthen community bonds and raise awareness.

After nearly a year of implementation, "Civilized Saturday" has transformed from a single day of activities into an integral part of the community life in Binh Duong. Under local authorities' guidance, this movement has generated positive outcomes and gained widespread support.

 Every program and small action—like planting trees, placing trash cans appropriately, maintaining clean sidewalks, and removing illegal billboards—contributes to the transformation of each residential area. This movement not only makes the environment greener, cleaner, and more beautiful but also enhances neighborhood relationships, fosters civic responsibility, and brings Binh Duong closer to its goal of sustainable development.

Reported by H.Thuy, T.Tuyen - Translated by Ngoc Huynh