The Sapphires Development Initiative Climate Actors (SDG 13 advocates) in conjunction with The Lush Culture commemorated the World Environment Day project themed #Beatplasticpollution with a project. This project was carried out from the 5th to the 10th of June 2023 in three states in Southwestern Nigeria including Oyo, Osun, and Ogun. The aim of this project was to contribute to the challenge of #beatplasticpollution actively. Over 2,450 individuals were sensitized and reached through this project in three schools including Abadina Group of Schools, Alfahizuun Schools, and Fakunle High School.
Sensitizing the students about plastic pollution, its adverse effect on our immediate environment and the world at large, and encouraging them to contribute their quota to ensuring a mitigation of the current damages done through plastic pollution, were the core of this project. Practical sessions with the students on how to create stationary holder out of plastics, as well as training them on how to properly recycle and create other things from plastic was held.
Generally, the two hours spent in all three schools followed the pattern of introduction, practical classes, and a mini sensitization program in the schools. The introduction was very essential in adequately informing the students about the dangers of plastic pollution and statistically confirming these dangers and associated health and economic risks with recognized databases. One of which is from the United Nations Environment Program states that over 7 million of the 9.2 billion pieces of plastic produced globally in the last 7 decades are still in the environment as trash because they are not biodegradable. Following this introduction were the practical sessions already described (stationary holder) and then the sensitization where the students were taught the 3Rs (REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE), after which, they were encouraged to tell others in the school and beyond about it.
To conclude, the #beatplasticpollution was a success because more young people were sensitized about the use of plastic. The initial questions of students like “what do you mean by beat plastic pollution?”, “how does beating play a role?”, etc., were answered, and with practical sessions. Much more, it was a success because more interest in saving the earth have been birthed in the hearts of passionate young boys and girls.
