WESSA Schools Programme Impact Report 2020

Kabega Primary School

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

Schools produce a tremendous amount of waste with waste paper and cardboard from instruction materials, used electronics and food being the main broad waste items. One estimate is that 24% of school waste is recyclable paper while 50% is food waste and non-recyclable paper that can be composted. It is important that schools become active participants in recycling programs in order to help preserve the environment and to leave the planet in a better condition than we found it. After all, our youngest citizens are often the strongest change agents . Teachers, learners and their families need to work collaboratively in order to reach that goal.

LEADERS IN RECYCLING

Kabega Primary and were inspired to start their own path to successful waste management. Kabega is the only school that consistently reached the final round on the Sasol-Forever Resorts Enviro quiz from 2014 through to 2018. Kabega learners also took part in the Department of Environmental Affairs’ Regional Enviro Awards with great success. Further, the school won the Plastics SA recycling competition in 2014 and 2016! HELPING COMMUNITIES Through their dedicated recycling activities, Kabega have been involved in a number of community- based projects to help raise funds for different charities. They have partnered with community organisations such as the St Martin’s Presbyterian Church and have also worked with Bread tags for wheelchairs , which is an organisation that raises funds by recycling bread tags – inorder tohelpbuywheelchairs for those who cannot afford to buy wheelchairs for themselves. To date, with their school’s contribution, three wheelchairs have been donated through this initiative.

Kabega Primary School in Kabega Park, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, is leading the way in recycling and waste management projects. Their recycling journey began in 2012 and the school has been part of the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme for six years. Recyclingat KabegaPrimaryhasbeen instilled in all learners. They have adopted a ‘whole school approach’ where all learners are asked to bring bread tags, milk cartoons, bottle tops and many other waste products to their different recycling stations.

They recently won The Waste TradeCompany Competition , where they set the bar high by recycling a total of 13,736 kg, which amounted to a

total of 15.19 kg per learner! Their recycling efforts have inspired and encouraged other schools in the NelsonMandelaBay area to recycle , including schools such as the Bet- el Christelike Akademie who came second in the same competition. The Bet-el Christelike Akademie started their recycling journey after visiting

Through recycling and doing their part to save and nurture the planet, Kabega Primary have managed to be a beacon of hope to those in need. The Kabega Primary School community truly is spreading the Green Gospel.

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