STORY PREVIEW

2025

Don't be Trash!

FAWEZI

Chivhu

MENTOR

Wendy Muzite

Step 1 FEEL

List the challenges or problems in your surroundings (school,neighbourhood etc.) that bothered you.

The amount of litter piling up in our school and no one was making an effort to control it

State the problem chosen to work and why.

Excessive litter was becoming a pressing issue affecting both the environment and the learning environment. It was starting to accumulate in the school and contributing to pollution harming local ecosystems. The school has a responsibility to model environment friendly behaviors.

Who were the people affected by the problem? What were their primary concerns?

Students were mostly affected by the problem * The litter was exposing to unsanitary conditions that could lead to potential health issues such as allergies and infections. * A littered environment can be a distraction and affect concentration in class leading to failure * Litter can diminish the pride of students and leads to a negative school culture

Step 2 IMAGINE

List ALL the different solutions you came up with.

We wanted to put more dispose sites around the school so everyone would put litter in them not throw on the ground. We also made notices and posters around the school discouraging littering. We came up with the idea to set up a club that monitors the school environment and enforces rules, punishing those who do not abide by the rules.

Which solution from those listed above did you choose to implement and why?

We decided to set up an environmental club that monitors the school environment ensuring people do not litter everywhere. Imposing a fine as punishment for those caught in the act. The fines were to be used to make t-shirts for the club members. Having students who monitor the environment would help us put order around the school and control littering.

Step 3DO

Describe very briefly the process of implementing your solution(s).

There was a call to action on the issue of litter in the school yard and dorms as well. We also sent out invitations for those who were interested in joining the DFC -Nurture force club. The club was set up and a duty roaster created on the days monitors would be inspecting the schools and educating fellow students about the dangers of being exposed to trash in the school yard.

What was the result or impact of your project?

The project improved the physical surrounding of our school and built a a stronger sense of community and responsibility amongst students. There was a cleaner setting that positively affected the student morale and focus, helping to contribute to better educational outcomes. There was a decrease in littering incidents

How many people were impacted by your solution(s)?

114

What did the impacted people have to say about your project? Provide 2 quotes or testimonials:

When parents came on visiting day and heard about the initiative they said" what these learners did is amazing, we can wait to have them home to do the same in our communities" Our teachers joined in the fight against littering

What challenges did you encounter while implementing your project, and how did you overcome them?

At first, other students were skeptical about joining the club. We also faced a lot of resistance from older students. We asked for buy in from the school admin who provided us slots during assembly to keep emphasizing on the advantages of having a clean school environment. As we kept talking about it, more and more students started warming up and the don't be trash slogan quickly spread within the school gaining momentum , we were winning!

How long did it take to implement your solution?

15-30 Days

Which global goals does your story align with?

Responsible consumption and production

Please explain briefly why do you think so?

The clubs efforts contribute to building a more sustainable future by encouraging responsible consumption and fostering environmental stewardship within the school. By addressing littering and implementing a littering and recycling program, the club worked towards reducing waste generation and promoting sustainable practices at all levels.

Step 4 SHARE

How did you share your project with your school and community? Who did you share your project with? What was their response?

Our project was introduced during school assemblies, where club members presented the goals, activities, and importance of addressing littering. This engaged the entire student body and staff. We also crafted informative posters and flyers and distributed around the school to raise awareness about littering and promote upcoming cleanup events and workshops. We utilized the social media platforms to share updates, photos from events, and educational content. This helped reach a wider audience, including parents and community members. Presentations were made during parent-teacher meetings to inform parents about the project and encourage their involvement in cleanup activities. The club now participates in local events to share initiatives, encouraging community members around the school to join their efforts and promote environmental sustainability. Who the Project Was Shared With: 1. Engaged the entire student body to foster a sense of ownership and pride in maintaining a clean school. 2. Informed teachers and staff about the project’s goals and encouraged their support and participation. 3. Reached out to parents during meetings to involve them in the project and raise awareness in the home environment as well 4. Engaged local residents and other Catholic schools to build broader support for the initiative. Many students expressed enthusiasm for the project, leading to high participation rates in cleanup events around the school. We garnered support from our teachers and they appreciated the initiative and often supported it by integrating sustainability topics into their lessons. Our parents and the community showed interest in participating in cleanup activities, with several volunteering their time and resources.

Approximately how many people did you share your story of change with?

More than 100

Briefly share your plan to sustain the impact of your project?

We will schedule regular cleanup days throughout the academic year to maintain momentum and encourage continuous participation from students and the community. During assembly we will continue and club days we will host workshops on recycling, composting, and environmental sustainability to keep awareness high and engage new students each year. We keep encouraging new members to join the DFC Nature Force Club so we get fresh ideas and sustained energy for ongoing initiatives.

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