The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment Joshua Wycliffe launched the Litter Free Clubs Program in Samabula, Suva on Saturday the 23 May.
Speaking to the media he said, “Today, we launched a new product through this campaign backing the Clean Fiji Policy launched by our Minister Hon Dr. Mahendra Reddy recently. This product has identified litter free clubs across Fiji and will work with the young people across Fiji”.
How Does the Model Work?
For a few hours, Young volunteers would meet and split up— work together to remove litter and waste from the designated streets/ area.
The result of such hard work and collaboration from this bunch of determined youngsters is a litter community. The added bonus would be the level of awareness raised through these young people going about this business across villages, towns and cities in Fiji.
Wycliffe says “this campaign is yet another innovative environmental protection program from the Ministry of Environment.
Why is this model important?
Litter, besides being an eyesore, seriously disrupts our ecosystem (our environment) – a simple example would come from the litter/garbage(s) piles that bring infestation from insects and rodents, bearing and spreading diseases.
The Partnership from today’s program
The weekend’s partnership, is a model to be replicated across Fiji. A team of 50 young volunteers joined the Ministry personnel (Jimmy Guanavou and Vasiti Naikoyadai) in cleaning streets across the Samabula community. The volunteers were led by their leader Mr. Kelepi Gaucake. The following were the areas covered under the weekend program:
Team 1 –Picked rubbish from Bureta Street > Lakeba street > Moala Street > Matuku Street > Old Peoples Home (Samabula)
Team 2 – Picked rubbish from Bureta Street > Princess Road > Vatua Road > Ono Street > Namuka Street > Fulaga Street > Old Peoples Home (Samabula)
Team 3 – assisted with the cleanup and also cut grass and pruned plants in an around the Senior Citizens Home in samabula.
Suva City Council (SCC) assisted with the garbage truck to collect garbage bags along the mentioned streets.
The Ministry expects to expand its partnership across Fiji in the coming weeks and months
Outcomes through Community Partnerships
The Ministry believes that getting communities involved is a great way to raise education and awareness among them. Today’s exercise has laid the groundwork for the future litter free efforts.
Today’s results were visible and will lead to a greater level of interest (and profoundly meaningful enthusiasm from the community) and will bring the much needed community involvement towards reducing litter, garbage and food waste.
The Permanent Secretary and his team appreciated the hard work put in by the leader Mr. Gaucake and his team of youngsters who delightfully participated in the launch.