“Green Brush 2026” Voluntary Student Campaign – Faculty of Architecture, Interior Design and Applied Arts

From classroom draftings to vibrant murals in public spaces, students from the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts at Nguyen Tat Thanh University brought their professional expertise and youthful energy to Phu Khuong Ward, Vinh Long Province through the “Green Stroke 2026” volunteer campaign. After two phases of implementation, the walls at the park area in front of the Ward People’s Committee headquarters have put on a new look, marking a journey of bringing art closer to community life.

Bringing Art from Lecture Halls to Community Spaces

From July to September 2026, the Student Club of the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts launched two volunteer phases in Phu Khuong Ward, Vinh Long Province. As part of the “Green Stroke 2026” campaign, students executed the “Purple Crape Myrtle Flower Garden” mural project at the park area, a community gathering space in front of the Ward People’s Committee headquarters. The project was carried out to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the establishment of Vinh Long Province (July 1, 2025 – July 1, 2026), while contributing to beautifying the landscape and bringing a fresh look to the local residents’ living space.

For the participating campaign members, the walls at the park were not merely places to practice painting skills. They were also spaces closely attached to the daily life of local residents—where children play and locals stroll in the late afternoons. Therefore, each artwork needed not only to ensure aesthetic appeal but also to harmonize with the surroundings and convey positive messages to the community.

Under the guidance of specialized lecturers, students applied their knowledge of fine arts, color theory, and composition to paint vivid murals. Each section of the wall was gradually refreshed with the green of trees, the purple of crape myrtle flowers, beautiful images of the countryside, alongside promotional contents on traffic safety and inspiring educational dreams in children.

From initial ideas on drawing boards, the artworks took shape step by step within the public space. Once monotonous walls turned into landscape highlights, contributing to creating a colorful, inviting play and community area for local people.

For students of the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts, the campaign was also an opportunity to apply specialized knowledge to a practical project. Selecting colors, developing compositions, and executing artworks on large-scale walls required them to pay close attention to spatial features, aesthetics, and user appropriateness.

The lecturers’ mentorship throughout the process provided students with additional opportunities to reinforce knowledge, hone professional skills, and adapt to real-world job requirements. Through this, they realized that the value of a creative idea lies not only in the beauty of the artwork itself, but also in its ability to serve practical needs and enrich living spaces.

Students from the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts at Nguyen Tat Thanh University executing the “Purple Crape Myrtle Flower Garden” mural project in Phu Khuong Ward, Vinh Long Province

Students Paint Under the Sun, Locals Bring Meals and Drinks to Fuel Their Spirit

To create these vibrant paintings, members of the Club went through many days of working under the harsh sun of the Western region, interspersed with sudden rain showers.

Throughout the two implementation phases, students persistently worked on scaffoldings, holding brushes to perfect every detail under lecturer guidance. Hands accustomed to blueprints now had to adapt to painting on large walls under weather conditions that were not always favorable.

On many afternoons, with shirts soaked in sweat and hands smeared with paint, the work continued as each mural gradually took shape. Toward the final days, the park’s new appearance became clearer, fueling motivation for the entire team to complete the project.

Amid those hard-working days, what remained in the students’ minds was not only the fruits of their labor emerging before their eyes, but also the care and support of local residents.

Refreshing drinks, fresh coconuts, and simple meals prepared by local residents and ward officials served as practical sources of encouragement. This support through everyday actions helped the young volunteers feel the genuine affection of Phu Khuong people even more deeply.

Joy also came from young children who frequently visited the park, eagerly watching the students work and cheering as the walls grew more colorful each day. Upon completion of the artworks, the children’s delighted expressions in front of the new imagery brought special happiness to those who directly created them.

A campaign member shared that they came to Phu Khuong wishing to gift murals, but received so much warmth and affection from local residents in return. That very journey helped them love their field of study even more, better understand the meaning of using talent to serve the community, and cherish the precious moments of youth.

From days of working together under sun and rain to the thoughtful care of local residents, “Green Stroke 2026” provided students with experiences far beyond the scope of a practical academic exercise. There, they learned not only how to complete a physical project, but also how to coordinate, adapt, and share with the community they visited.

Completed murals contribute to beautifying the landscape, bringing a new look to the community space in Phu Khuong Ward

Leaving Murals in Phu Khuong, Bringing Home Lessons from the Community

After two execution phases, the “Green Stroke 2026” volunteer campaign in Phu Khuong Ward, Vinh Long Province came to a close. Paintbrushes were stored away, scaffoldings dismantled, yet the fruits of the journey remain on park walls and in community living spaces.

For local residents, the murals contribute to landscape beautification and bring new color to daily life. For students, each artwork preserves memories of days working side by side, overcoming challenges, and receiving love and support from the locals.

From a volunteer activity, “Green Stroke 2026” demonstrated that students’ professional knowledge and creativity can make concrete contributions to social life. By directly carrying out community-serving projects, students had the opportunity to clearly see the link between their field of study and society’s practical needs.

Particularly in the fields of architecture, interior design, and applied arts, the journey in Phu Khuong offered a grounded lesson on professional responsibility. A creative product needs not only visual beauty, but also thoughtful consideration of space, people, and the values it can bring.

Through the “Green Stroke 2026” campaign, students from the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts at Nguyen Tat Thanh University promoted creative capacity, applying specialized knowledge to beautify public spaces, spreading a volunteer spirit and community responsibility

Through the campaign, students from the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts gained additional opportunities to promote creative capacity, hone professional skills, and experience the meaning of applying expertise in service of society. The activity also contributed to spreading the dynamic image of NTTU youth—rich in volunteer spirit and adept at applying classroom learning to create tangible values for the community.

The campaign received attention and support from the Board of Management of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, the Leadership of the Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts; partnership and assistance from the Party Committee and People’s Committee of Phu Khuong Ward, alongside warm affection from local residents throughout implementation.

Leaving Phu Khuong, students carried memories of a sunny volunteer season, heartwarming meals, and children’s smiles beside newly finished murals. Staying behind were vibrant wall sections, continuing to present in local daily life.

With simple brushstrokes, NTTU youth left an indelible mark in Phu Khuong through their knowledge, creativity, and volunteer spirit. The murals not only beautify a park corner, but also highlight the true meaning of taking knowledge from lecture halls to the community—a place where students grow through practical experience and the values they bring to society.

By: Cam Thach – Truong Nguyen Truong Nguyen

Photos: Faculty of Architecture – Interior Design – Applied Arts