Lilongwe youth clean market on World Environment Day
Wildlife Trust leads youth in market clean-up for World Environment Day.
Lilongwe, Malawi - The Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation and Rehabilitation Trust, a Cooperation Circle of United Religious Initiatives, led the youth on Saturday in a market clean-up campaign at Chigwirizano market as part of the commemoration for this year's World Environment Day, writes Sellaphine Banda Selemani.
The event aimed to raise awareness about the theme "Beating Plastic Pollution."
Emmanuel Phiri, Director of Environmental Conservation at the Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation and Rehabilitation Trust, expressed the organization's intention to work with the youth in Chinsapo and surrounding areas to advocate against the use of thin plastics and promote proper hygiene and sanitation in the market.
"We are trying to encourage the youth's participation in taking the leading role in caring for their own environment, and as you have heard, the theme of this year's World Environment Day is beating plastic pollution. We send our message to the general public to stop using thin plastics as they cause great damage to our environment," Phiri stated.
Transizio Divason, secretary of the Chigwirizano market committee, expressed his satisfaction with the collaborative effort between the youth and the market committee in cleaning the market.
He emphasised that this initiative aligns with the city council's vision of maintaining a clean and healthy business environment.
"I am very impressed with what these youth have done today to come here and support us in cleaning our market. This will send a strong message to those using the market and other areas to take good care of the environment," Divason said.
Blessings Mukatipa, one of the youths who participated in the cleaning exercise, expressed his happiness at being part of the movement for environmental conservation.
He emphasised the need for immediate action, stating, "I am very happy to be one of the people addressing the need to take care of our environment, and we choose not to be leaders of tomorrow, for our time to act is now."
Following the clean-up exercise, an environmental march was conducted from Chigwirizano to Chinsapo 2, with participants displaying placards advocating against plastic pollution and promoting the need for a clean and healthy environment.
The event received financial support from United Religious Initiatives (URI).
The market clean-up campaign served as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect the environment.
By engaging youth and raising awareness about plastic pollution, the Wildlife and Natural Resources Conservation and Rehabilitation Trust and its partners aim to foster a sustainable and cleaner future for all.
The World Environment Day is traditionally commemorated on June 5th every year.
It is heartening to see the youth engaged in what is an unpleasant task.