AmatiRecicla, an initiative that promotes environmental education in Amatitlán schools – 2024-07-13 13:42:01

2024-07-13 13:42:01

AmatiRecicla It is a project that promotes Recycling culture in the municipality of Amatitlán. Through training and plastic collection, more and more children are learning about the importance of waste management. How cool!

AmatiRecicla, an initiative that promotes environmental education in Amatitlán schools

Since a year ago, AmatiRecicla has promoted the Environmental education and recycling culture in Amatitlán schoolsThis project focuses on waste management, classification and proper handling. It initially impacted 13 educational centers and has now been extended to 23. As part of its activities, the initiative has trained students on waste management and has exchanged plastic collected in schools for desks.

The initiative was made possible thanks to the alliance between several organizations, including the New Narrative Movement – Haciendo Eco -, the Municipality of Amatitlán, the Association of Industry and Commerce of Amatitlán – ICAMA – and Grupo AJE. The efforts of this collaboration were publicly presented at an event held at the Edén Internacional Educational Center in Amatitlán, attended by representatives of the organizations involved.

Photo description for visually impaired people: Representatives of the alliance organizing the project at the project presentation event. (Credit: courtesy)

Promoting environmental awareness in Guatemalan children

AmatiRecicla is a project designed to promote environmental education and recycling, focused on teaching students the importance of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – which is part of proper waste management.

In addition to receiving training, the children collect plastic in containers shaped like giant bottles and, when they reach 500 pounds, these wastes can be exchanged for a desk made of recycled material. In addition, part of the PET plastic collected is purchased by the multinational beverage company AJE to be used in its own containers. The objective of the project is to install giant bottles in 50 schools to reach the 14 municipalities of the basin. This goal seeks to significantly expand the reach and impact of AmatiRecicla in the region.

Another of the project’s key activities is the “eco challenge,” a competition between participating schools that rewards students who master the concepts of waste classification and management. This competition not only motivates students, but also provides them with a practical and meaningful understanding of recycling. To strengthen this motivation, AJE has also created an initiative that allows children to visit its plant in Amatitlán, giving them a first-hand view of sustainable production.

Photo description for people with visual impairments: On the left is one of the plastic collection containers and on the right is a desk made from recycled material. (Credit: courtesy)

Other projects that impact

In addition to AmatiRecicla, there are other initiatives in the country that focus on teaching future generations about environmental conservation. A notable example is ECOlearning for Motagua. On July 4, 16 educational centers were awarded in the second edition of the competition, in which 140 schools participated.

This contest managed to collect thousands of pounds of waste and has involved children, teachers and their communities in activities that highlight the importance of caring for the Earth and its resources. These types of projects are essential to foster a culture of respect and environmental conservation from an early age, ensuring that future generations are better prepared to face ecological challenges.

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