HANOI, July 24, 2015 -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today held an event at the U.S. Embassy’s American Center to award winners of a video contest launched by USAID to engage Vietnamese youth in addressing the country’s development challenges.

Over 50 videos were submitted from students in 36 universities throughout the country. These video entries address a variety of issues, ranging from environmental pollution, education, vehicle traffic, orphanage and street children, urbanization, school violence, LGBT and agriculture development to maintenance of traditional arts and historic sites.

“The videos submitted show the creative ideas that young people bring to development issues in their communities,’’ said U​SAID Mission Director, Joakim Parker. “Sound development depends on the involvement of young people at the local as well as global level.”

After his remarks, Mr. Parker presented the prize winners of the contest with awards and certificates of recognition from USAID. Below is the list of the three prize winners.

*First prize: a MacBook Air and a certificate of recognition from USAID/Vietnam

Video title: Changes Within Reach

Author: Xanh team (Nguyen Quang Co, Do Huy Tao, Le Thi Thu Thao)

Topic: Environmental protection through recycling, reuse and repurpose

Video link: https://vimeo.com/126142243

*Second prize: an IPhone 6 and a certificate of recognition from USAID/Vietnam

Video title: Hope

Author: Hoang Trieu To

Topic: Education for ethnic minority children

Video link: https://vimeo.com/125638185

*Third prize: an IPad mini and a certificate of recognition from USAID/Vietnam

Video title: Biking for the Earth

Author: Vo Thi Minh Ngoc

Topic: Environmental protection through encouraging more people to cycle

Video link: https://vimeo.com/126217667

Launched in January, the USAID contest encouraged Vietnamese students to create a video that demonstrates a development issue in their community and propose a solution that they think could tackle it. Through this contest, USAID expects to better understand youth’s ideas and approaches in addressing development issues and this will help USAID create programs that better support them, helping them to become part of the solution to today’s challenges.

For photos of the event, visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHskgPAzWn. For the videos submitted, visit https://vimeo.com/groups/usaiddevelopmentcup