Submitted to: Department of Basic Education (DBE)
Submitted by: SayProCKG
🌐 www.saypro.online | 📧 info@saypro.online
1. Executive Summary
SayPro proposes a strategic partnership with the Department of Education to roll out the SayProCKG Schools Recycling Project across public schools in South Africa. This initiative aims to promote environmental education, instill a culture of recycling, and empower learners and educators to become champions of sustainability in their schools and communities.
The programme aligns with the Department’s priorities on Environmental Awareness, Life Orientation, and the Green Economy Framework, offering a practical and impactful way to turn schools into zero-waste zones, while also fostering skills development and job readiness in the waste and recycling sector.
2. Programme Rationale
South Africa generates millions of tonnes of waste annually, with significant volumes ending up in landfills. Public schools, especially in townships and rural areas, often lack proper waste separation and recycling infrastructure, contributing to environmental degradation and health risks.
Moreover, the current education system offers limited practical exposure to circular economy principles, waste entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility.
SayProCKG (Community, Knowledge, Green Technologies) seeks to bridge this gap by introducing a national schools recycling programme that teaches learners about the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, while creating opportunities for green entrepreneurship and positive environmental impact.
3. Project Objectives
- Educate learners and educators on the principles of waste management and recycling.
- Establish school-based recycling hubs and waste separation stations.
- Promote behavioural change among learners regarding waste disposal.
- Encourage green innovation and recycling-related business ideas.
- Create an interactive national database and map of recycling schools.
- Reduce school-generated waste sent to landfill by at least 50% in the pilot phase.
- Promote youth employment and skills development in the green economy.
4. Programme Components
4.1 School Assessment and Selection
- Identify and select pilot schools in collaboration with provincial education departments.
- Conduct baseline waste audits and space evaluations for each site.
4.2 Training and Awareness
- Workshops for teachers and learners on:
- Waste classification and management
- Benefits of recycling and composting
- Environmental health and pollution prevention
- Circular economy and sustainable living
- Include lesson packs, posters, and learner booklets.
4.3 Infrastructure and Materials
- Install recycling stations with colour-coded bins (paper, plastic, cans, glass, e-waste).
- Provide branded signage and collection containers.
- Optional: Compost bins for food/garden waste and eco-bricks for non-recyclables.
4.4 School Recycling Clubs
- Establish learner-led clubs to manage weekly collections, audits, and education campaigns.
- Clubs to report monthly waste volumes, challenges, and ideas.
4.5 Waste-to-Wealth Initiatives
- Teach learners how to repurpose waste into marketable goods:
- Eco-bricks
- Plastic crafts
- Compost and garden mulch
- Partner with local recyclers to collect sorted materials and share proceeds with the school.
4.6 Digital Mapping and Reporting
- Each school receives a profile on the SayProCKG Green Schools Map.
- Monthly data submission portal tracks:
- Recyclables collected
- Learner engagement
- Educational outreach
- Revenue from recycling (if applicable)
4.7 Inter-School Competitions
- Recycling challenges (e.g., most waste diverted, best innovation, school awareness campaigns).
- Annual awards for top-performing schools, learners, and educators.
5. Roles and Responsibilities
SayPro will:
- Design and implement the recycling programme.
- Provide training materials and recycling infrastructure.
- Offer mentorship and guidance to school eco-clubs.
- Monitor, evaluate, and report on programme outcomes.
Department of Education will:
- Approve and support implementation in selected schools.
- Facilitate integration into Life Orientation and Natural Sciences curricula.
- Coordinate with districts and circuit managers to ensure participation.
- Endorse the programme and encourage national scaling.
6. Anticipated Outcomes
| Output | Indicator |
|---|---|
| Schools trained and equipped | 200 schools (pilot) |
| Learners reached | 80,000+ |
| Educators trained | 2,000+ |
| Waste diverted from landfill | 150+ tons in 12 months |
| Recycling clubs formed | 200+ |
| Environmental awareness campaigns | 500+ events |
| Circular economy innovations developed | 100+ learner projects |
7. Project Timeline (Pilot – 12 Months)
| Phase | Activities | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | School selection, MOU signing, baseline audit | Months 1–2 |
| Phase 2 | Training & infrastructure deployment | Months 3–4 |
| Phase 3 | Programme launch, club setup, data collection | Months 5–9 |
| Phase 4 | Evaluation, competitions, national showcase | Months 10–12 |
8. Budget Estimate (Pilot Phase: 200 Schools)
Estimated Budget: ZAR 8,000,000
Includes:
- Training & facilitation (R2.5m)
- Bins, signage, club kits (R2m)
- Monitoring & mapping systems (R1m)
- Staff & logistics (R1.5m)
- Prizes, events, and showcase (R1m)
9. Sustainability Strategy
- Encourage schools to generate income by selling recyclables.
- Partner with municipalities and waste management companies for support.
- Build school capacity to run projects independently through trained eco-clubs.
- Integrate environmental education into school culture and learning.
10. Call to Action
SayPro invites the Department of Education to endorse and co-implement the SayProCKG Schools Recycling Project to build the next generation of eco-leaders, innovators, and green entrepreneurs. Through this partnership, we can achieve a cleaner, healthier school environment while embedding environmental consciousness into the heart of education.
Let’s work together to build a zero-waste school system that empowers our learners and preserves our planet.
Contact
Puluko Graham Nkiwane
Chief Marketing Officer
SayPro – Southern Africa Youth Project
📧 info@saypro.online
📞 +27 84 313 7407
🌐 www.saypro.online
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