Students and parents of Dar-es-salaam Secondary Baitul-Ilm community participated in a beach cleanup activity on Saturday 8th June, 2024 as their end of year project. This initiative served as a platform to display and live up to the values aspired in the vision of the IIS Secondary curriculum, which aims to make our young learners better global citizens, reflective, responsible and empathetic human beings by practicing the values of our faith. Taking care of the environment and Allah’s creation with whom we share our planet is our responsibility as mankind. Our faith teaches us that human beings are deputies of God, and it is through our agency we can make better living conditions for the whole of the creation.
The event was co-organised by ITREB, Human Dignity and Environment care Foundation (HUDEFO), and Aga Khan Foundation, institutions that function to raise awareness about environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Beginning the day after morning prayers; students, parents, teachers and a group of volunteers marched their way to the ocean-road beach from Upanga Jamatkhana with the spirit of making the planet a better place to live – below and above the ocean.
Through the clean-up, the group collected an impressive amount of waste, sorting recyclables from non-recyclables and ensuring proper disposal. The event was not only a clean-up but also an educational experience. Teachers and environmental experts accompanying the students discussed the impact of plastic pollution on marine life, emphasizing the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling as part of the exercise.
The students had not only cleaned the beach but also set an example for others to follow and make alive Mawlana Hazar Imam’s guidance and vision. Their actions demonstrated that with collective effort and a shared sense of responsibility, significant strides can be made towards a cleaner, healthier planet. With initiatives like these, secondary students, their parents and teachers are leading the charge in making the planet a better place to live – proving that age is no barrier to making a significant impact. Their commitment and enthusiasm serve as an inspiration for us all to take better care of our precious environment.
Click below to see a glimpse of the event.