After the regular multi-stakeholder meeting in March 2023 for the Women Entrepreneurs Plastics (Womenpreneurs4plastic) Program, which was attended by women's groups and related parties, it was agreed that as a follow-up to joint action there would be a collaborative program with the government. On 26 May 2023, YEU collaborated with the Environmental Agency of Sigi District to conduct a 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) campaign and Plastic Bank at Kapopo Elementary School in Ngatabaru Village.

 

The purpose of this activity was to increase understanding of the 3Rs, including education related to the types of valuable waste and residual waste, as well as expanding the Ngatabaru Village Plastic Bank campaign to schools around Ngatabaru Village. The targeted participants were the students of Kapopo Elementary School (SDN Kapopo) in Ngatabaru Village. There were 75 students of SDN Kapopo who participated in this campaign activity.

 

(Picture: The school children get to know what 3R and Plastic Bank are)

 

The students enthusiastically took part in the campaign activities facilitated by YEU staff and representatives of the Environmental Agency of Sigi District by singing songs containing 3R education messages using the Kaili language, then carried out a joint waste collection action around the school. 

 

Furthermore, the Environmental Agency of Sigi District showed an educational video about waste, types of waste, and the adverse effects of waste pollution. This method succeeded in attracting the attention of students in participating in this campaign activity because in this session is interspersed with quizzes and souvenirs giving for students who could distinguish the types of waste with economic value and residual waste.

 

(Picture: The students singing the 3Rs song with YEU staff and the Plastic Bank Committee of Ngatabaru)

 

In addition to the Environment Agency of Sigi District in this activity, the Plastic Bank Committee of Ngatabaru also provided information on  activities of the Plastic Bank and encouraged students not to litter and maintain the cleanliness of the school and surrounding environment.

 

The implementation of this campaign activity received a warm welcome from the school. The Principal of SDN Kapopo supported the 3R and Plastic Bank campaign activity by facilitating the room and equipment needed to support the activity. They appreciated the waste management program from YEU in Ngatabaru Village which not only provided education to adults but also for children.

 

(Picture: SDN Kapopo Ngatabaru representative received 2 trash cans from YEU)

 

YEU provided 2 trash cans to use in the practice of sorting organic and inorganic waste in the school environment. In the future, schools are expected to donate plastic waste with economic value to the Ngatabaru Plastic Bank.