Activity #1: HUMARA WATAN HUMARI SHAAN
The EcoBin team kicked off its awareness campaign on effective waste management and recycling strategies with The City School. Our aim was divided in to three push factors, in order to have the impact factor we were looking for in this activity. The first push factor was to explain the perils Karachi has been facing, due to poor waste management and disposal techniques employed by KMC. As a result the students understood the dangers of uncontrolled pollution, making them think twice before they would consider throwing any wrapper on the streets. The second push factor was to link the ideology that “Karachi cannot be cleaned”, to "Yes it can be cleaned" if the people and the provincial government pays attention on the right issues at hand. Through examples of some foreign countries such as Germany & Sweden the students were able to comprehend the gravity of the overall situation better. Finally, our third push factor was “Think Globally, Act Locally”, meaning that change starts from you! Instead of paying attention to what others around you are doing, you should simply start doing what is right yourself! The impact factor tripled with the help of these push factors, and the opening informative session was a success.
After discussing about Karachi, we explained the purpose of EcoBin and how it could help improve the current predicament Karachi faces. EcoBin is not just your normal bin; it’s a bin that will make you understand the need for segregating waste before disposing. It will make the individuals realize that even one person can make a difference when it comes to disposing waste properly. The aim of EcoBin has always been to create a resolute and unshakable ideology, which is why we have been educating people around on the need to change the mindset as a whole. To bring change is important for as George Bernard Shaw famously is quoted to have said:
We also did a small art contest called “Art Attack”. This is where we let the creativity of the students take control of their minds and produce work of art from waste materials! The purpose for this activity was to further make the students realise that the material they usually call “Kachra (Waste)” is not just waste but if used smartly can create great works of art!
We concluded our day with conducting a mannequin challenge on a massive scale with the entire school! Over 1000 students helped us make this challenge a success, and we were very grateful to the administration of City School and to the network head of the school Ms. Fatima Haris who helped us making this event a huge success. We just hope to bring a change not just in Karachi, but in Pakistan because “Humara Watan Humari Shaan.”
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
Activity #2: PORT GRAND STALL
Venue: Port Grand
The Second activity, which EcoBin steered to create awareness on effective waste management and recycling strategies, was at Port Grand. The main aim of this activity was to educate the people in public the ways of disposing their waste smartly. The activity focused on empowering the individuals, explaining them that people should focus on what they are doing rather than what others around them are doing. Hence Port Grand was chosen to create awareness amongst local citizen who like to visit recreational complex for outing or for eating out with their families.
We promoted our Idea of “Think Globally Act Locally” by creating a stall and displaying the products, which were made by the City school students from waste materials such as empty bottles, newspapers & tins. Seeing some incredible artwork numerous people came probing as to what was happening over at the stall. The trigger factor in attracting the families or individuals were the artwork done by the students, which was followed by a brief awareness speech, regarding problems Karachi is facing due to land waste. We also elucidated people how the EcoBin concept could help Karachi be waste free city. We also had a huge poster for the people to express what they felt after listening to us and seeing our stall. The comments were encouraging and showed that we are not alone in our cause to create awareness amongst people when it comes to effective waste management!
The activity was held for 3 hours in which we were able to attract over 100 individuals and/or families, having a footfall of over a 1000 people. Amongst them we were able to get the viewpoint from the Head of Distribution of Dubai Islamic Bank Mr. Naveed Malik who immensely supported our concept and willingly requested to give us any assistance needed in regards to promoting our ideology. Moreover Operational Manager of Port Grand Mr. Faisal Baig, also shared his views as to how the management of the famous food street has successfully been able to keep the place so clean and waste free. To conclude our activity at Port Grand we released balloons in the air which kept floating up, keeping in mind that one day the streets of Karachi would also be released from all of its waste!