THE importance of environmental protection and recycling was taught to Grade 4 students of the Vieux-Fort Primary School in a very innovative way by a group of Taiwanese International Corporation and Development Fund (ICDF) Oversees Volunteers, working in the south of the island.
The message took the form of a design by the volunteers of a Christmas tree made from plastic bottles , which was truly a spectacle.
The Vieux Fort Public Library also collaborated with the volunteers, to produce an activity which attracted the attention of the general public.
The volunteers see the activity, which was held on the compound of the Vieux Fort library last week, as one which will create an awareness of environmental and sanitation issues among the students. The volunteers described the tree as an “eco-friendly Christmas tree,” which will inspire the students to be creative.
The volunteers are hoping to make the activity an annual one where they will teach the students how to make good use of materials which are often used to litter the community.
Forns Arlette, a grade 4 teacher of the Vieux Fort Primary School described the activity as very educational, adding that the approximately 40 students were very fascinated by The Christmas tree.
“The Christmas tree teaches the students how materials which we would normally throw away could be recycled. It would make the students have a greater appreciation for the environment and in the process keep it clean,” Arlette said.
He added that the school has an environmental club and is hoping to use such initiatives to further impress upon the students the importance of environmental protection and recycling.
According to him, over the years the school has had a number of clean –up campaigns, during which areas in Vieux Fort are rid of a large number of empty plastic bottles which represented an eyesore.
“We are environmentally conscious. The school plays its role in trying to keep the environment clean,” he said.