Students of Van Lang University designed propaganda posters for World No Tobacco Day 2021

In order to raise students' awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco, aiming to celebrate World No Tobacco Day 2021, from May 28, Van Lang University's Communist Youth Union launched a propaganda poster design contest, "World No Tobacco Day" with the message "Van Lang Students - Cigarette Smoke Elimination." The contest attracted students to participate with very high-quality products.

Since 1987, the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen May 31 every year as World No Tobacco Day, with the desire to propagate to the community the harmful effects of tobacco on active and passive smokers, reduce the rate of smoking, and reduce the global burden of disease and death due to tobacco-related diseases. In 2021, the World Health Organization chose the theme "Commitment to quit smoking" for World No Tobacco Day on May 31.

Responding to the call, Van Lang University's Communist Youth Union launched a contest to design a propaganda poster, "World No Tobacco Day," with the message " Van Lang Students - Cigarette Smoke Elimination" for all Van Lang students, including representatives of the Executive Committee of the Youth Union - Faculty Association and representatives of the Management Board of University-level Clubs. 

The contest registration portal was open from May 28, 2021 to June 10, 2021. Accordingly, all participating contestants are free to choose creative forms of propaganda poster design and ensure the following criteria:

• Required poster size: A3 vertical size
• Posters include images and accompanying slogan messages.
• Do not plagiarize other products; do not violate intellectual property laws; Do not contain offensive images or messages.
• With this year's "World No Tobacco Day" propaganda poster design contest, the Organizing Committee applied a scoring method for entries with 60% of the score from the jury and 40% from audience votes. 

Sharing her thoughts on smoking, student Nguyen Minh Tu - Course 23, Faculty of Business Administration, member of the 2020 Outstanding Student Union said: "Maybe, you came to cigarettes mainly because of its ability to reduce stress, the consequences are not only harmful to yourself but also to those around you. It's not just that they are part of a series of products that are highly taxed and are always associated with negative messages. Be wise in choosing. Quitting smoking not only means loving yourself but also loving your family and loving the community where you live.” 

Cigarette smoke not only destroys the health of smokers but also destroys the health and future of children: "People smoke, children "take in the smoke" from cigarettes. Children should not be affected by cigarette smoke around them. Even though we know that giving up a habit is very difficult, let's be patient together, for everyone and for those around us, to limit smoking. In public places, please smoke in the right place to ensure a clean living environment." - That is the propaganda message from student Trinh Gia Bao – Course 23, Faculty of Architecture, Van Lang University. 

After the “online competition" period, the Organizing Committee received more than 40 posters from Van Lang University students with many meaningful, creative, professionally designed messages, calling on everyone to join hands for a better learning environment. Van Lang streets are smoke-free. On June 20, 2021, after the end of the voting period, the Youth Union of Van Lang University announced the results of the best posters, including:

• 01 first prize: Event Club with the work "Van Lang issued an order – Let’s catch the smoke that causes illness."
• 02 second prizes: Executive Committee of the Youth Union - Association of the Faculty of Fine Arts & Design with the work "Stopsmoking", Executive Committee of the Youth Union - Association of the Faculty of Architecture with the work "For health! For pandemic control! For the community!"
• 03 third prizes: Tran Phu Sang with the work "Questions for you"; Le Duc Khang with the work "Turn off the chimney, Bro."; Executive Committee of the Youth Union - Association of the Faculty of Law with the work "Breathing"
• 01 Consolation prize: Youth Union Executive Committee - Faculty of Public Relations - Communications with the work "No Smoke - No Regret"
• 01 most voted poster award: Nguyen Ngoc Phuoc with the work "Dad! Please stop smoking..."
• 01 best message award: Vo Khanh Vy with the work "Don't put me in a smoky environment. I want a green environment, a peaceful world." 

At Van Lang University, propaganda activities for a smoke-free Van Lang environment are also present in students’ daily life, from "No smoking" signs placed everywhere in classroom corridors and restrooms to the youth projects carried out by students of different faculties, with cute slogans: "The house is full of work, please don't join the Nicotine party.", "Blue shirt, red backpack, I whisper “don't smoke anymore!",... are posted in the restroom areas of school facilities. All actions are aimed at creating a change in students' awareness and actions about the harmful effects of smoking on human health and the surrounding environment.

My Tien