The City of Ekurhuleni and its stakeholders held an environmental and waste management awareness programme to honour and celebrate the International Day of Biodiversity on May 22.
Learners from Vukucinge and Bakerton primary schools attended and participated in the activities.
The delegates taught them the importance of our wetlands and gave them information relating to water quality.
Unathi Nzimande, representing Protect Our Environment Today (POET), did a presentation on waste management and climate change.
“Your waste is your responsibility,” said Nzimande.
She taught the learners how to reuse waste to reduce their carbon footprint and let them offer their own solutions.
“There are alternative methods to help combat climate change, like taking walks and riding your bicycles instead of driving everywhere,” she informed.
The children were divided into three groups, given some reusable waste products and asked to make something.
They made stationery holders, a bird feeder, book holders and a toy car.
Representatives of Oxfam South Africa, an organisation partnering with the city on a waste recycling initiative, told the children about recycling and their new Swap Shop campaign.
The learners then took a tour to identify water hyacinth and various bird species indigenous to the wetland.
They also learnt how to test water quality.
