Dainfern College has embarked on a 25th anniversary initiative, From the Bottles Up, which aims to collect 25 000 ecobricks to build an eco-centre and a classroom in collaboration with Khensani’s Collection, a non-profit organisation based in Diepsloot that focuses on the upliftment of children through mentoring, nutrition and education. This initiative is being driven by four of Dainfern College’s student leaders: Tamsin Watcham (environmentalism), Tatum Butler (marketing), Jenna Cassel (Round Square) and Hannah Rose (outreach).
From The Bottles Up aims to create awareness amongst students, staff and the community at large, educating them about plastic pollution and plastic consumption through a sequence of thirty-second choices that not only can make a drastic impact on the environment, but also change lives within the greater community.
The From the Bottles Up project improves the environment by reusing approximately
12 500kg of non-recyclable plastic. To create an ecobrick, you need a 2lt plastic bottle filled with every bit of plastic that is non-recyclable, including plastic straws, plastic wrapping, chip packets, old toothbrushes, cellophane, old balloons, polystyrene (cut smaller) and plastic cutlery, etc. An ecobrick needs to weigh more than 500g or be dense enough not to buckle under your weight. All the materials used to fill the bottles need to be cleaned and dried before being placed in the bottle.
This initiative in celebration of Dainfern College’ 25th anniversary will create an impact on many lives. Learners in Diepsloot will learn the importance and potential of reusing waste as well as gain facilities for education, and those at Dainfern College will learn the importance of their actions, bringing hope and a sense of accomplishment through environmentalism – a joint purpose that can re-use thousands of kilograms of plastic, allowing each individual in our community to help the environment, as well as change lives.
Dainfern College is encouraging all members of the community to join their drive and help them reach their goal of creating 25 000 ecobricks. If you have any ecobricks to donate please deliver them to Dainfern College, 96 Broadacres Drive, Dainfern, tel: 011 469 0635.
