SCHOOL HEALTH PROJECT CHAMPIONS WASTE MANAGEMENT IN WAKISO

Health club patrons have been trained on how to create waste bins using plastic bottles and have in turn passed this knowledge on to learners, making the project both practical and engaging. This innovation has proven to be highly beneficial compared to conventional waste bins in many ways.

One of the key benefits of this initiative is its cost-effectiveness as the materials needed for the project are readily available, schools can implement these practices without incurring substantial expenses. Additionally, it actively engages children in collecting waste bottles and crafting dustbins, a task they enjoy participating in. Not only are these bins durable and resistant to weather elements such as sunlight, but they also teach students essential waste management skills beyond the school level.

Additionally, learners have been taught waste management practices, including segregation of polythene bags and plastic bottles for recycling, while non-plastics are repurposed as manure for school gardens.

This innovation goes beyond keeping schools clean, it contributes significantly to environmental conservation. By segregating plastic waste from non-plastics, schools are protecting the soil and reducing pollution. The practice of burning plastic waste has been eliminated, as bottles are now repurposed into useful items like waste bins.

Teacher Petwa, a health club patron at Sanga Primary School, praised the initiative, saying, "This innovation has transformed Sanga Primary into a clean school now that we are disposing of rubbish correctly. It’s cheap, interesting, and anyone can do it. As you clean your environment, you can gather materials to make useful items out of it."

Learners have embraced the project wholeheartedly, seeing it as both an educational and impactful activity. Aisha, a grade 6 learner and member of the school health club, shared her thoughts: "Recycling waste materials in our school saves us from diseases caused by poor waste disposal, and it keeps our school clean."

This waste management innovation is not only creating cleaner schools but also instilling lifelong skills in learners and promoting environmental stewardship. As this initiative spreads across Wakiso, it sets a powerful example of how simple, cost-effective solutions can drive change at both the school and community levels.