On Thursday morning the 16th September 2010 Eastwood Primary School kicked of their greening program with the help of The Earth Organization. Carl Uys and Sam Madlala, who have recently opened an Earth Organization chapter in Pietermaritzburg (South Africa), got off to an exciting start in their efforts to involve communities, within the Pietermaritzburg region, in environmental conservation. The issues addressed at Eastwood Primary were that of the importance of recycling, the effects pollution has on the environment and why all people in the world should not litter; learners were briefed on what the dangers of litter actually are. “Teachers tell learners not to litter, parents tell children not to litter, but, have they been told why they should not litter?” stated Yvette Taylor, Executive Director of The Earth Organization.
Bringing this message across was the subject of the Green Day events held at Eastwood Primary. It also saw the launch of their Green Day competition in which the junior primary learners will get to create posters about recycling and the senior primary learners will get to create usable items for their homes or school using material we deem as waste. Eastwood Primary School headmaster, Mr. Amein commented: “This is a long overdue project which is sorely needed in our community and we hope it becomes an ongoing project”
Urvashi Hairidass from the Wildlands Conservation Trust taught the learners about the importance and methods of recycling. The Wildlands Conservation Trust will supply recycling bins to the school and will continue a partnership with the school, giving them 40% of all moneys collected from the recycled goods. This initiative is truly beneficial to both parties as the learners are taught to keep the environment clean and the school receives funds for ongoing projects within the school. The Earth Organization plans to replicate this event in schools across KZN, “Education is a key component of any environmental projects, it is not enough to tell people to change their habits for the good of the environment, we need to teach them why they need to change and how their own actions can make a difference for the future of our planet” said Taylor.
The Earth Organization returned to the school this week to award prizes to the winners of the Green day competition. The competition proved to be a huge success, prizes were sponsored by Exclusive Books Head Office and The Earth Organization. “Overall this project has been a fantastic success. We are so impressed by the resourcefulness, creativity and effort demonstrated by the children and teachers of Eastwood Primary.” commented Yvette Taylor.
The Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization is an independent, non-profit group which seeks to reverse the decline of the plant and animal kingdoms and our environment through education and action.
