There's a school in Nigeria that has found an ingenious way to tackle the problem of plastic waste and promote education at the same time. There Morit International School, located in Ajegunle, a densely populated area of Lagos, has started an initiative that allows students to pay their school fees with plastic bottles. An initiative that not only helps keep the environment clean, but also promotes awareness of the importance of a sustainable lifestyle, recycling and the reduction of plastic waste.
How the program works
Through this program, students can bring in at least 20 plastic bottles per term to cover their tuition. The school has partnered with a local company to collect and recycle plastic bottles. These are then selected, cleaned and transformed into useful products such as fabrics, furniture and building materials. The founder of Morit International School, Patrick Mbamarah, opened this school as a way to give something back to society. Conscious of the growing number of out-of-school children in his community, he has decided to keep tuition fees as low as possible. However, even with these reduced fares, he realized that families were still struggling to pay.
Despite initial financial difficulties, Mbamarah's determination to ensure accessible education for the children of his neighborhood never wavered. Looking for new fundraising solutions, she created the Recycles Pay Educational Project, a sustainable project that allows parents to pay for their children's school fees using plastic bottles, based on their personal experience and recycling skills.
Community reaction in Nigeria
a mom, Ijeoma Obiora, he didn't believe it was possible for a school to accept fees in the form of plastic bottles. Today, her 13-year-old daughter happily attends Morit International School. “The school is excellent for my daughter, who is now in JSS 1 (the equivalent of sixth grade). From a financial point of view, she takes away the anxiety of having to provide an education for my daughter on a limited budget,” she says. “Today, the first thing I do when I see a thrown away plastic bottle is pick it up. I don't even think twice about it, the only thing that crosses my mind is collecting rubbish to take to school.”
Students, parents and local government have all expressed enthusiasm for the program. According to the school administration, the initiative was successful in raising awareness among children and parents of the need to recycle more and use less plastic. The project also made it easier for low-income families to cover the costs of their children's education.
The Lagos State government has pledged its support for the school's campaign to reduce plastic waste.
Conclusion
Morit International School in Nigeria shows us that, with a pinch of creativity and determination, it is possible to find innovative solutions to solve complex problems. Good, good, good, good.
