Russian guy 'picks up trash to live a more meaningful life'

Sasha's story is proof that sometimes, to change a city, you just need to start with a trash bag, a pair of gloves and sincere love.

Start with a bag and a pair of gloves

Two years ago, Sasha Shakhov, 35, left Russia to live and work in Da Nang through a friend's introduction. As a sound engineer in the video game industry, Sasha's life is associated with working hours in front of the screen. However, his love for this "sunny " coastal city does not stop at the natural landscape or cuisine . He realized: "I want to do something useful" .

"I decided to start a meaningful job, both to help the community and to make myself happier. Picking up trash is a convenient option, because you just need to go out and clean; it doesn't require knowing Vietnamese or needing complicated organizations," Sasha shared.

With a bag and a pair of gloves, starting from the vast, wave-filled Man Thai beach, Sasha Shakhov laid the first brick for the birth of the group "NO trash in Da Nang anymore" - a volunteer community of nearly 2,000 members working together to clean up the city.

‘Tôi nhặt rác để sống có ý nghĩa hơn’ - Ảnh 1. — Sasha Shakhov (sitting in the middle) and some members of the group "NO trash in Da Nang anymore"

Love of the environment does not distinguish between nationality, language or culture .

At first, the group only had a few of Sasha’s friends, mostly Russian speakers. 6 months passed almost silently, until he decided to share the group’s activities on some Facebook communities in Da Nang.

"The post received a lot of likes and comments. People started joining the Facebook group, then coming directly to the clean-up sessions. We were surprised by the speed of the spread," he said.

And then, a community gradually formed. They were groups of people from Russia, England, Australia, Ukraine, Vietnam... Regardless of nationality or language, Sasha and the members of the group " NO trash in Da Nang anymore " join hands for one goal: action for a green environment. Sasha sees it as proof that: small actions can overcome all cultural barriers.

‘Tôi nhặt rác để sống có ý nghĩa hơn’ - Ảnh 2. — Vietnamese and foreign members join hands to clean up trash

"People need to see that they are not alone. And we need each other . Cleaning is not just about cleaning - it's a way to get to know each other, to talk, to connect," he said.

With a friendly, open atmosphere and a shared goal of protecting the green environment, each trash collection session is also a place where members can interact with each other, creating a multicultural space . The trash collection activity is simply a voluntary act and also an expression of the need to heal, connect and position oneself in the context of re-sowing awareness of each individual in the fight against pollution.

Overcome challenges with action

The group regularly maintains trash collection activities every Sunday at locations such as beaches, residential areas, Thuan Phuoc bridge, and Han river banks... To date, the group " Facebook NO trash in Da Nang anymore " founded by Sasha has had nearly 2,000 members . " Unfortunately, the number of members in the Facebook group does not accurately reflect the number of people who are actually willing to participate in cleaning up trash. To attract more participants, we are active on TikTok, I also post in groups for foreigners living in Vietnam. And of course, the important thing is that everyone spreads the news that every week there is a group of friends quietly picking up trash," Sasha shared.

Besides, being an expat myself, connecting with the local community is not always easy. Sasha said: "A lot of people say thank you, both online and in real life. But unfortunately, most of them stop at thank you. However, every week there are new people coming, old people coming back. That makes me never feel alone . "

‘Tôi nhặt rác để sống có ý nghĩa hơn’ - Ảnh 3. — Members of the group "NO trash in Da Nang anymore" after collecting trash around Han Thuong Lake, Son Tra, Da Nang

Overcoming obstacles with perseverance, he still regularly organizes 1-2 sessions per week. The garbage collection sessions not only stop at cleaning public spaces but also become a meeting place and cultural exchange between Vietnamese and foreigners.

"Start with yourself"

When asked about her future plans, Sasha said: "It's still just cleaning up the trash. I really hope we can change people's thinking and behavior." For Sasha, change doesn't have to start with a grand campaign. It starts with one person. Then two people. Then a small group. Then a community.

He shared a message to young Vietnamese people: "Don't forget that positive change must start from each individual. Every action has consequences and will affect us back. Therefore, it is better to stand on the side of good."

Sasha Shakhov is not an environmental activist, he is just a person who wants to do something useful, and he chooses to pick up trash. From that small act, a community is formed. Corners of the city begin to change - becoming cleaner and more beautiful.

For many Vietnamese, the active participation of international friends is also a motivation to look back at themselves. Ms. Huyen Chau - a member of the group shared that at first she felt admiration when seeing foreigners living in Vietnam but very conscious of the environment, which made her "a little ashamed" because she herself was Vietnamese but had never done the same thing. It was that feeling that urged her to participate and want to spread the spirit of green living to more people.

The presence of foreigners in community activities in Vietnam is no longer a strange thing. But the way Sasha and his team maintain, spread and inspire each week makes them an indispensable part of the city's appearance.

In the context of Da Nang city's efforts to develop sustainably, actions like those of Sasha and the "NO Trash in Da Nang a nymore" community have special meaning . Not only do they directly support environmental cleaning, they also contribute to creating a model of active citizenship - something that the city and the country more broadly need in the fight against pollution.

The fifth Living Well Writing Contest was held to encourage people to write about noble actions that have helped individuals or communities. This year, the contest focused on praising individuals or groups that have performed acts of kindness, bringing hope to those in difficult circumstances.

The highlight is the new environmental award category, honoring works that inspire and encourage action for a green, clean living environment. Through this, the Organizing Committee hopes to raise public awareness in protecting the planet for future generations.

The contest has diverse categories and prize structure, including:

Article categories: Journalism, reportage, notes or short stories, no more than 1,600 words for articles and 2,500 words for short stories.

Articles, reports, notes:

- 1 first prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 2 second prizes: 15,000,000 VND

- 3 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 3,000,000 VND

Short story:

- 1 first prize: 30,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 20,000,000 VND

- 2 third prizes: 10,000,000 VND

- 4 consolation prizes: 5,000,000 VND

Photo category: Submit a photo series of at least 5 photos related to volunteer activities or environmental protection, along with the name of the photo series and a short description.

- 1 first prize: 10,000,000 VND

- 1 second prize: 5,000,000 VND

- 1 third prize: 3,000,000 VND

- 5 consolation prizes: 2,000,000 VND

Most Popular Prize: 5,000,000 VND

Prize for Excellent Essay on Environmental Topic: 5,000,000 VND

Honored Character Award: 30,000,000 VND

The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2025. The works will be evaluated through the preliminary and final rounds with the participation of a jury of famous names. The organizing committee will announce the list of winners on the "Beautiful Life" page. See detailed rules at thanhnien.vn .

Organizing Committee of the Beautiful Living Contest