School waste management project |03 June 2020

Baie Ste Anne primary school receives coloured bins to help sort out waste

Baie Ste Anne primary school, renowned for its eco-friendly environment, has accomplished yet another milestone in striving for a cleaner and more sustainable school. This is the realisation of one of its major eco-school projects – the ‘school waste management project’.

The school received a donation of coloured bins for waste classification, sponsored by the department of environment and the Environment Trust Fund. These bins will help the pupils in sorting out their waste and instil in them a culture of waste management which they shall promote in their homes and communities.

It was the representatives of the department of environment on both Mahé and Praslin, Jeanette Larue and Shirley Joubert respectively who handed over the donation to the school’s head teacher Monique Lesperance and eco-school coordinator Karen Port Louis. This was done in a short ceremony at the school, in the presence of representatives of the department of education, the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF), teachers and pupils of the school.

This special occasion was also the ideal time to introduce the school’s eco wardens. A group of pupils comprising class prefects from each class who will be responsible in guiding fellow peers in making good use of the new bins. Last term, the eco wardens attended a special training to better equip them in carrying out their duties in an efficient manner.

Ms Larue expressed the department of environment’s joy that such a project has been brought to the Baie Ste Anne school and encouraged the students to use them accordingly.

“It is important that each of you play your role in keeping a clean school environment and do not rely on school cleaners. It is good to start practicing it at an early age and you can all encourage family members to do the same,” Ms Larue shared.

She also asked all pupils to be respectful towards the eco wardens, a group of very enthusiastic young environment fanatics.

Head teacher Monique Lesperance thanked the invitees for their role in helping to realise this project and called on all pupils to make good use of the new bins.

“Waste can be detrimental to human health if it is not properly disposed of. It is therefore very important that we learn and know how to classify and dispose of our waste. These bins will help us sort out our daily waste and ensure that materials that can be recycled do not end up idle on the landfills,” Ms Lesperance pointed out.

She also called on the eco wardens to take up their newly appointed responsibility with pride, trusting that they make a difference in ensuring a clean, eco-friendly school environment which is conducive for and encourages learning.

On behalf of the pupils, Kim Larue, head of the eco wardens, thanked the department of environment and the Environment Trust Fund for the donation which has come at an opportune time.

“This donation comes at a time when we are valuing the three ‘R’s – reducing, re-using and recycling. These bins will be very beneficial to our school in waste management and keeping a clean school compound,” said Kim Larue.

She also thanked the redeem centre and other recycling partners who are actively working towards keeping our country clean and eco-friendly.

Text: Nadia Bedier

Photos: Romano Laurence