Rayerbazar students learn about waste management through poetry, songs, and drama

The Nabadiganta Adarsha High School students at Rayerbazar learned about waste management and environmental sustainability through poetry, songs, and drama.

As part of the ongoing "Rayerbazar Reimagined: From Waste to Wellness" initiative, Save the Children's Shishuder Jonno program organised a transformative school awareness event at Nabadiganta Adarsha High School, said a press release.

Monday's event marked a pivotal moment in the SHIFT campaign's mission to empower youth to tackle waste management challenges and promote sustainable environmental practices in Dhaka's Rayerbazar area.

One student, Shumi Akhter of the school, said, "From the daylong event, I learned about solid waste and which waste is recyclable and reusable. The SHIFT members expressed the bad side of plastic waste and how to manage our household's waste. We will apply this knowledge in our house."

The School's Headmaster Muhammad Aminul Haq said, "If we are aware about our regular waste in our households then we can manage it easily. But when we avoid the rules, then we face the problems."

The program commenced with a warm welcome extended to students, teachers, and esteemed guests. Representatives from Save the Children and MSS delivered powerful opening remarks, emphasising youth leadership in addressing environmental challenges.

Their speeches underscored the SHIFT campaign's focus on building a cleaner, greener Rayerbazar through the collective efforts of young changemakers known as SHIFTers.

The event lay in an engaging awareness session conducted by the SHIFTers. Through interactive demonstrations, they educated students on waste segregation, recycling, and reducing plastic use. A hands-on activity, where students learned to differentiate between disposable and non-disposable waste, brought the message of responsible waste management to life. This session highlighted the importance of instilling sustainable habits from a young age, aiming to create ripple effects within the broader community.

The event also featured vibrant cultural elements that captivated the audience. Renowned musician and composer Khayam Sanu Sandhi unveiled the official theme song of the campaign, an anthem of hope and action. This song energised the crowd and underscored the campaign's vision. This was followed by a powerful theatrical performance by the SHIFTers. Through a Theatre for Development (TFD) drama, they depicted the detrimental impacts of indiscriminate waste disposal and showcased practical solutions for better waste management. The drama resonated deeply with the audience, combining entertainment with a call to action.

Following this, a symbolic tree-planting ceremony was another highlight of the program. Led by the SHIFTers and school authorities, the activity served as a visual reminder of the campaign's commitment to environmental rejuvenation.

Here also attended Kanica Fardosh, manager of Adolescent Development, SJ Program Save the Children, and Afsana Khanom, program manager of Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (MSS), and others.

Launched on 7 October, the SHIFT campaign in Rayerbazar focuses on empowering youth aged 14 to 24 to take ownership of local issues, particularly waste management. The initiative aims to reduce plastic usage, promote waste segregation, ensure proper disposal, and encourage recycling and reuse practices. Through creative, youth-led efforts, the campaign seeks to inspire sustainable solutions and foster a sense of collective responsibility within the community.