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| Bassey flounting the hashtag… |
Efio-Ita Nyok|10 January 2018
Some things they say never ends, this is true for the Campaign #BigFunLessTrash championed by EIS Recyclers in Partnership with other stakeholders in Calabar to address the environmental issue of waste management and a social intervention to convert proceeds of recycled waste to support poor school children in primary and secondary schools in Calabar by paying school fees, educational support materials such as books, text books, erasers, pens, school uniforms etc.
With over 10 million young Nigerians out of school and in line with the goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, education is a fundamental right, sustainable and resilient cities is a priority, Climate Change is top agenda, what this indicates is that we are faced with challenges that only government cannot proffer solutions to.
EIS Recyclers, a social enterprise founded by Mr. Edem Edem started a campaign #BigFunLessTrash, which came as a necessity from the careful observation in the high amount of waste generated during the Carnival Calabar Festival (A 32 days of fun in Cross River State). With dwindling resources to the state; the State government and its relevant MDAs in charge of waste management back-pedal in the zest at which waste is effectively collected, contained and transported to landfills.
At the already burdened landfills, most of the solid waste is burnt while others are left to decay or buried. The unpleasant reality is that most of these solid wastes spend half millennia before complete decay and within this period the waste emit greenhouse gases (GHG) which contribute to climate change. The unpleasant sight of the landfill coupled with the unpleasant odour, all add-up to the health hazards and de-beautification of our environment.
It is on this backdrop and the increasing number of out-of-school children within the State Capital for little things such as writing materials that EIS Recyclers initiated the Waste4 Education Initiative to mine the state for waste, which they recycle and then in turn use monies received to support out-of-school children back to school.
Some citizens and corporate organizations within the State have keyed into the vision of EISRecyclers to support school kids by donating their recyclable waste materials to them. EISRecyclers all through the year have a sustained system of door-to-door collection of waste from donors.
The #BigFunLessTrash Campaign is to raise the State citizens and tourist consciousness during the 32 days of unlimited fun that they can have fun and yet generate less trash by appropriately sorting their waste and donating same to EISRecyclers with full assurance that their trash will go a long way in putting smiles on the face of at least one child.
In celebration with everyone who stayed committed to EISRecyclers all through the year and also to sensitize the general public, EISRecyclers went round the street of Calabar to share the message of proper waste management and the 3R concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The public sensitization culminated into presentation of educational support materials to over 300 children and gift items to donors who have made concrete efforts in keeping Calabar green and clean but more so investing in the future of tomorrow leaders.
Ms Yvonne Ekpenyong and Mr. Francis Archibong both went home with a Skyrun Flat Screen LCD TV sets for donating the highest kilogram of waste to EISRecyclers in the year 2017, other donors carted several gift items ranging from Hair dryers, Flasks, Irons, Clippers, Cartons of Indomie noodles, Groundnut oil, kitchen cutleries, shopping vouchers at Spar Calabar and several other items.
Donors and partners at this year #BigFunLessTrash event were thrilled with dance competition, treasure hunt and other games such as fastest fingers where several denominations of mobile network credits were called out.
A raffle draw was done, and a lucky kid went home with a new school bag.
Addressing all present, the CEO of EIS Recyclers Mr Edem Edem thanked all the donors, who have gone through the hassles of gathering trash to donate to EISRecyclers, he commended their doggedness and strong will to see that at least one child is supported in School in the Waste for Education Initiative and also for playing their civic role in assisting the government maintain a clean and safe environment, because an unclean state is a sick state and no development can take place in such environment.
Partners at the event HipCity Hub, Peace Point Agenda, Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE), Edem Children Foundation (ECF) represented by staff of the organizations or their Executive Directors gave their goodwill remark and pledge their continued support to EISRecyclers for taking up the gauntlet and leading the frontline in converting waste/trash into value that school kids are direct beneficiaries.
We are also thankful to our official media partner Negroid Haven for their support.
This year’s event which held on December 27, 2017 at the playground of Calabar Preparatory International Nursery and Secondary School, Etta Agbor, Calabar certainly had the carpets for papparazi, a DJ with current hit tracks with a lot to eat and drink. If you missed this year event, don’t worry it’s not too late to join.
Become a donor by contacting EIS Recyclers for pickup of waste materials, and let me break the news at this point, the CEO of EIS Recylers and all partners promised that the 2018 edition will be more glamorous with bumper gift items, let me not reveal the gift items for next year but remember you can’t afford to miss the #BigFunLessTrash event 2018.
At EIS Recyclers we #Recycle4Calabar.
To be part of EIS Recyclers contact them through email eisnigeria@gmail.com
Contact EIS Recyclers on Social media.
Twitter: @eisnigeria15
Call them on 08037114770
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Social Commentator
