This year the Makana EcoSchools Node has two of its schools among the prize winners of the Eco-Schools Green Business Award for 2014.
This year the Makana EcoSchools Node has two of its schools among the prize winners of the Eco-Schools Green Business Award for 2014.
The national competition funded by the Saville Foundation called for schools to plan and implement a green business plan which would have a positive impact on the environment and community.
Commitment to a healthy and sustainable future was the other criterion. The EcoSchools node is co-ordinated by Rhodes University's Environmental Learning Research Centre.
Victoria Primary School was placed fourth nationally in the competition. Their project was a Green fete. The school invited pupils, teachers, parents and any member of the community with a Green idea to sell Green products at their Green fete.
The many innovative ideas included a focus on biodiversity (bird feeders, indigenous trees, carbon sequestrating spekboom); recycling (citronella candles from recycled crayons and candles, and booklets from recycled paper); environmental and personal health (natural beauty products, organic boerewors and freshly squeezed orange juice).
Pupils from Grade R to Grade 7 were involved in Green business ideas which were made even more meaningful as they explored, researched, tried out, measured and planned their projects in subjects such as Life Skills, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Economic and Management Sciences.
The Boyz in Blue, a group of Grade 6 boys from St. Andrew’s Preparatory School involved in the school’s Eco Schools programme, launched their business in 2014 to raise awareness around Recycling and Resource Use.
With the help of their EcoSchools teacher, Lynn Cordell they brainstormed ideas and formed a business. Their creative eco business financed the purchase of recycling bins for the school and which they aim to unveil this term.
The business got off the ground with their production of unique stress balls and later bouncy balls and lemonade. Loom bands, smoothies and eco-themed jellies also became part of their repertoire.
The team is extremely excited to be one of the runners up in the Green Business Award Competition and aim to develop their business in 2015. VP and Prep will proudly fly their Green Business Award flags this year.
