We are delighted to share a blog written by student Christopher, from Cranleigh School Abu Dhabi, who is part of team Microplastics Pollution Fighters delivering a Global Goals project for the 2020-21 GSL Global Goals Competition.
Their project is among over 957 social action projects currently running as part of the GSL movement and we are excited to be supporting them to design and lead positive social change in their community.
It’s never too late for anyone to join a good cause to help save the planet.
Project Summary
We are a group of 4 year 7 students from Cranleigh Abu Dhabi.
Have you ever seen a nurdle? Do you know what it is? A few years ago, one of our project team members has first come to be aware of, and started taking interest in the topic of microplastics and the harm they do to the environment.
Our team want to take the opportunity of the Global Goals Competition to do something about it. Reducing microplastics pollution at the source is no easy task as use of plastic is the norm that’s hard to break. We hope to raise the general awareness and spread the seriousness of this issue.
The Journey
After the school resumed in January after the winter break, we have been busier with our school work and family weekend schedule. Sometimes it is challenging to get the team together online when everyone has a very different schedules, especially over the weekend.
We also have an outdoor event planned on the project. With Covid, we are afraid the turn out rate will be low. However, we are prepared that even if it’s only the 4 team members and their families on the day, we will make the most out of it and decided to have fun hunting nurdles and share the fun on our social media.
We have reached out to some local organisations that work on similar mission. and needed to communicate formally and professionally which have been a challenge for us. We are fortunate that our teachers and parents have been giving us a lot of support and guidance.
Our teachers have challenged to make this project and mission continue after the project ends. This will not be easy but we will try our hardest.
The Next Chapter
Start from ourselves. We challenge ourselves and everyone to start recording our own, and our family’s “plastic footprint”. How much and what non-recyclable or one-time use plastic we use on a daily basis? Start with small steps to start removing plastic use, especially single use plastics, from our daily life, and move bigger from there. This is a long term commitment that has to start somewhere so here we are.