German government supports conservation project in Maputo schools

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

German government supports conservation project in Maputo schools

12:27 CAT | 25 Jan 2019

in file CoM

A conservation project financed by Germany in the schools of Mozambique’s capital is teaching students to recycle and protect the planet. Teachers and students say they like the idea.

Mozambican students are learning to conserve the environment with the help of theatrical plays and lectures at school. One of them, 16-year-old Shelton Chume, says he is now more aware of the dangers of not recycling. “In the street, when I buy popcorn, I am afraid to throw the plastic away,” he admits.

“I learn more at school, during the holidays. I do not stay at home: I come to learn how to take care of the environment, how to end the throwing away of bottles and plastic in the community. A lot has changed. For example, when the teacher arrives he gives us sweets and does not say anything. But at the end of class, he asks for the plastic wrappers back,” Shelton explains.

Still, little is taught about environmental conservation in schools – one reason why Professor Elsa da Silva is full of praise for the German-funded project

“The goal is to teach conservation by means of a puppet show. Our students learn to recycle garbage, and make things with it,” she explains. “Students learn to work with recycled materials: bottles, coconut shells and other waste.”

Good results

The project is carried out by the NGO Solidaritätsdienst International and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

“For the past three years, they have been running an environmental project and have built a centre for the purpose,” Birt Nichol of the German embassy in Maputo says. The initiative has already had good results. “They work with three schools here in the province, funded by the embassy.”

With the German embassy support, the Malhazine High School theatre group is now spreading the conservation message to other schools in the district, but “this depends very much on the students of this school”, Nichol says.

“The idea is for the students to take the play to other schools in the district. They can also rely on the Environment Centre for help presenting the piece in the area,” he explains.

German environment consultant Wieland Jagodzinski, who first staged the play, underlines the importance of recycling for Mozambique. “I see a lot of garbage in the streets – bottles and so on. Often, when I walk, I get things stuck on my shoes. So it is important,” he explains.

Source: DW