School children convert waste to money

Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) together with National Gallery of Zimbabwe has embarked on a programme to impart waste management skills on schoolchildren.

The exhibition which has been dubbed “Tavatose Sisonke 2016 Schools Annual Visual Art Exhibition” targets schoolchildren from all 10 provinces of the country.

The adjudication of works will be from 23-25 June and the exhibition opening will be on 10 July. The exhibition is meant to create a platform for schoolchildren (pre-school to Advanced Level) to lend their initiatives in resolving problems of waste, thereby creating awareness in their communities to develop sustainable waste management methods.

Speaking to Sunday Life EMA national education and publicity officer Steady Kangata said:

“We are showcasing environmental issues through art. We started last year with a focus on wetlands and this year the focus is on waste management,” said Kangata.

This year’s theme is “waste no waste, waste is treasure” and is aimed at converting waste into money through arts.

“We want to bring out and unpack how waste can be converted into money through pieces of art. This is one of the strategies that we are using to catch them young, build their concept of environmental management and also bringing home the reality so that it does not remain abstract. We also run debate and environmental projects in various schools,” he said.