A Community Service Project by the children of Gateway College – Colombo 04

Every year, 7 billion tonnes of rubbish as well as harmful chemicals makes its way into the sea. Another major environmental issue affecting our coastline is litter and debris. This has significant impact on wild life as well as human health and livelihoods.

Therefore, it is important to teach our children from a very young age of the importance of keeping our environment clean and the value of recycling. We believe the best way to do is by giving them some hands-on experience. Learning first-hand just how important recycling is and what they can do with materials that are considered by some as trash will give the kids a greater appreciation for recycling.
At times, people who visit public places and use those facilities are not concerned about the importance of using bins and recycling in Sri Lanka unlike in the developed countries. It may be due to the fact that they are not well educated or informed of the importance of keeping public places clean and about recycling. It is the duty of all educational institutions to teach children these habits from a very young age.
Passing the Galle Face Green on a Monday morning one sees that the area is littered with rubbish, polythene bags etc after the public have enjoyed a Sunday evening. When inquires were made, it was realised that not enough bins were available at the Galle Face Green. Gateway College – Colombo 04, therefore, came up with the idea of providing bins and getting them installed properly with signage to educate the general public of how to use the bins and the value of recycling.
Keeping the environment clean and re-cycling are parts of the curriculum taught at Gateway College – Colombo 04 that follows the British National Curriculum. In order to use the opportunity as a learning experience for the children, a group of about 50 children accompanied by 20 teachers visited the Galle Face Green on Monday 7 December early morning at 7.30 am to clean-up a section of the Galle Face Green. These children were well equipped with hats, gloves etc. to carry-out this project.
This event was carried out with the blessings of the Honourable Minister of Ports & Aviation Mr. Chamal Rajapaksha, and was graced by Honourable Minister of Environment & Natural Resources Mr. Patali Champika Ranawake, Provincial Council Minister Mr. Udaya Gammanpila & Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Wickrema and many other distinguished guests.