At Vincom Mega Mall Royal City on Nguyen Trai street, discarded fabric is finding a new purpose in children's hands. Seven-year-old Mai Han excitedly and proudly showed off her creation.
"I came here with my mum to make a picture. Mine is called ‘The Ocean’ because I love the fish in the sea. It wasn’t easy fitting all the fabric pieces together, but it was a lot of fun," said Han.
Instead of spending the summer in front of screens, many Hanoi youngsters are turning colorful textile scraps into flowers, forests, animals or oceans, learning that even the smallest leftover pieces can become something beautiful and meaningful.
What begins as a simple art activity soon becomes a lesson in creativity, environmental responsibility and compassion. That's the idea behind Green Dream Weaving, a month-long charity project that transforms recycled fabric into works of art while raising funds to support disadvantaged children.
The initiative is co-organised by Litibaby, a Vietnamese children's fashion brand founded in 2014, together with Tien Phong Joint Stock Company, Vincom Mega Mall and Elite Talent Entertainment. For Litibaby, giving fabric scraps a second life is a natural extension of its commitment to sustainability, as its CEO and founder Muon Thi Ngoc Anh explains.
"As a children's fashion company, we produce thousands of garments every day, leaving behind many fabric scraps. We thought these fabric scraps could become something meaningful in the hands of children, while also helping us raise funds for disadvantaged people. For us, sustainability is not only about recycling and reducing waste, but also about spreading love and compassion through creativity," said Ngoc Anh.
Running until August 15, the programme welcomes children aged five and above to take part in free recycled-art workshops. Young volunteers aged ten and above also gain hands-on experience in community service while helping visitors create their own artworks.
The project gives children a chance to experience roles they might not encounter in everyday life. Young volunteers welcome visitors, introduce fundraising products and help guide younger participants through the creative process. Along the way, they develop communication skills, teamwork and confidence while discovering the joy of giving back to the community. One of those volunteers is 7th grader Thao Nguyen.
"At first, I felt shy because it was my first time working as a sales volunteer. But after learning and practising, I became much more confident. The money we raise will be donated to the Red Cross to support people in difficult circumstances. I'm very proud to be able to help others," said Thao Nguyen.
That growing confidence is perhaps one of the project's greatest achievements. For visitors, however, it is the artwork itself that leaves the strongest impression.
"I was immediately drawn to the unique materials and the messages behind the items. As someone working in the arts, I really admire the children's creativity. They've turned what might have been thrown away into vibrant works of art. It's a wonderful project that combines environmental protection, artistic expression and charity while giving children a meaningful summer activity," said Hanoi resident Ngoc My.
For the “young artists” themselves, though, the greatest reward is knowing their creativity may brighten someone else's life.
"It took me about 20 to 25 minutes to finish my picture. The best artworks will be auctioned for charity, and I hope mine will be sold. I want to tell children who are having a hard time not to give up. No matter what difficulties they face, they can get through them. I hope they always stay positive and believe in themselves," said participant Thao Tien.
The project will culminate in a public exhibition and charity auction on August 15. Instead of receiving cash prizes, the winners will see the value of their awards donated in their names. Together with proceeds from the auction and fundraising sales, the money will support community programmes through the Hanoi Red Cross.
