Matola – A new generation of environmental warriors is taking shape at four schools in Matola, Maputo Province, as pupils, teachers and their families participate in an environmental awareness programme supported by Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Mozambique.
In addition to providing a solid foundation of environmental principles, the programme aims to improve the quality of life of the participants, promoting public health and stimulating the exercise of environmentally aware citizenship.
The project includes a series of lectures that address topics such as sustainable waste management, environmental conservation and climate change. Interactive workshops are also held to teach waste reuse practices, highlighting the importance of waste reduction and recycling.
Hands-on activities are another part of the project, with tree planting sessions in collaboration with local authorities and regular schoolyard clean-up campaigns. Through these actions, participants are encouraged to adopt sustainable practices on a day-to-day basis, making them part of environmental preservation efforts.
The four-month programme, supported by CCBA in Mozambique in partnership with the Environmental Education Cooperative Repensar (Rethink), is being rolled out as a pilot at Ngungunhane, Machava-Sede, Matola-Gare and Matlemele primary schools.
Neyde Pires, Regional Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability director, said: “The partnership with Cooperativa Repensar reflects Coca-Cola Beverages Africa’s commitment to doing business the right way by finding increasingly sustainable ways to contribute to the communities where we do business.
“We use our industry leadership to be part of the solution to achieve positive change and to build a more sustainable future for our planet,” Pires said.
“We believe that by educating future generations about the importance of sustainability, we are building a more promising future for our country.”
The project also includes the development and distribution of educational materials, such as brochures and posters, to provide practical information on sustainable waste management behaviours. Regular evaluation and monitoring of the impact will be done through surveys and feedback sessions to keep track of awareness and behavioural changes of participants.
“To encourage more people to recycle more often, we’re investing to help people understand what to recycle, how to recycle, and where to recycle,” said Pires.
*Update* On December 2, 2024, The Coca-Cola Company announced updated voluntary environmental goals. Read more here: The Coca-Cola Company Evolves Voluntary Environmental Goals
