PLACE OF WORK: Mulavukadu
VENUE: St. Mary’s High School, Vallarpadam, Mulavukadu
CLASSES: Std I to X
DATE: 25 January 2019
MAJOR ISSUE IDENTIFIED: Waste generation and disposal
OBJECTIVES:
- To encourage zero waste lifestyle among students
- To promote the use of eco-friendly products
- To create awareness about the harmful effects of plastic waste
- To suggest safe disposal methods
- To minimise the generation of waste through a responsible living
- To discourage the use of plastics among students
The Department of Communicative English was allotted Mulavukadu region for their TROP Activities for the year 2018-19. An extensive study of the area was conducted to identify the major problem of the Mulavukadu region. After the interaction with the local people of the place and careful analysis of the recent news reports, poor waste management was identified as a major issue of the place. So the decision to focus on creating awareness on waste generation and disposal was jointly taken by the teachers and students. Besides, the recent Kerala floods showed us how the trash we threw in the water bodies came back to us, accentuating the menace created by this calamity. We believe that awareness of eco-friendly lifestyle and responsible living should start from the grassroot level. Thus the suggestion to focus on school students that include lower primary, upper primary and high school was considered. St. Mary’s High School was selected as the venue for the TROP activities. This TROP programme was done in collaboration with the PR Campaign “Project Zero” of the third year students of the department. This session for classes I to X was handled by 16 students.
Responses from the St. Mary’s High School students:
The team received a positive response from the students of St. Mary’s High School. Many of the students expressed that they were never aware of the amount of plastics they use in their life. They made a promise to reduce the use of plastics in their lives. “Next time I go to the shop to buy groceries, I will carry a jute bag,” a II standard student said. They also expressed their gratitude for showing them the alternatives for plastic. An eight standard boy said, “We have never seen a paper pen anywhere until the chechis showed us one”. Some of them said that they did not realize that they were practicing an eco-friendly lifestyle by using ink pens instead of ballpoint pens. The interactive session gave them a platform to express their opinions and raise their doubts. Some of the suggestions given by the students were innovative. The students were very happy with the teachers. They said that the teachers made the class very interesting through games and activities. “We promise that we will reduce the generation of waste and dispose of waste in a proper manner,” they said. They also assured that they will remember the golden R rule- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as their mantra for responsible living.
Response from the III DC students:
The team from St. Teresa’s College said that they had a good experience teaching and interacting with the school children. One of them said that the students were very interested to find out alternatives for every product made of plastic. By adopting a no-charts policy, they used laptops to take the classes. This effort was appreciated by the management of the school. “We are sure that the classes have impacted them. If adequate support is given to the children, they will soon make the school campus a plastic-free zone”, another student opined. The final year students enjoyed the session very well.