The Mekong Salt Youth Challenge 2024 was not just a competition, but a platform to nurture creative ideas and inspire action towards building a climate-resilient Mekong Delta. It is the young people, with their energy, intellect, and passion, who will lead the way in shaping the future of this region.
After an inspiring journey filled with innovative ideas and passionate spirit, we have identified the top teams who successfully conquered the challenge and earned prestigious awards! And the winners of this year’s competition are…?
First Prize: Team H&M – Tra Vinh University
With a solution to develop sustainable livelihoods for locals, the team’s model combining beekeeping and aquaculture shows high practical potential and applicability. This model not only stabilizes income for people in salinity-affected areas but also protects valuable mangrove forests. It helps increase income while preserving biodiversity, creating a sustainable ecosystem for coastal areas. This is not just an idea but an incredible solution for both the community and nature conservation!
Second Prize: Team Nutriwave – Van Lang University
Nutriwave turned the challenge of salinity intrusion into an economic development opportunity with their model of planting salt-tolerant crops and building a network connecting farmers with businesses. The website linking farmers and businesses will help promote agricultural product consumption, opening new business opportunities for local people. This innovative solution promises to create new, promising paths for Vietnamese agricultural products!
Third Prize: Team ECO – Tra Vinh University
The solution aimed at improving the lives of residents and combating climate change, is a practical and meaningful initiative. The team’s creative saltwater desalination solution with a low-cost, efficient water filtration system will help provide stable freshwater for people in areas severely affected by salinity intrusion. This affordable desalination system can be easily installed and used in households, significantly improving the quality of life for local residents.
Consolation Prizes:
Team Wonderland – An Giang University
With their media project “Stopping Salinity – The Battle to Protect Water Resources,” aimed at raising community awareness about salinity intrusion, Wonderland created engaging, easy-to-understand, and trending content through the TikTok platform. This initiative helps young people in the Mekong Delta better understand the challenges and solutions to cope with this.
Team ESD – University of Transport and Communications
With their innovative initiative using AI sensor systems to manage rainwater, the ESD group aims to create a network of smart sensors that continuously monitor soil moisture, water quality, and levels in reservoirs. The collected data will be analyzed by AI to make precise irrigation decisions for each area and type of crop, optimizing water use. This model is expected to improve crop yields, increase farmers’ incomes, and contribute to sustainable agricultural development in the region.
Each project brought fresh perspectives and potential solutions for combating salinity intrusion, contributing to the creation of a green and sustainable Mekong Delta. Once again, congratulations to the teams for creating meaningful and highly applicable solutions. You have proven that the creativity and efforts of youth are limitless, and together we contribute to a sustainable future for the Mekong Delta!
Let’s join hands in congratulating these talented young people and share the message of climate action with the community!
