Ensuring that the environment is fit for future generations is every community’s responsibility and in the community of Mallaig, the future generation is leading by example.
Students at Mallaig Primary School, guided by the school’s eco committee and teacher Lorna Unkles, have turned their desire for unspoilt environs into extraordinary action by founding their own not-for-profit organisation, Mallaig Clean.
Established with the help of the school’s parent council, the organisation has already prompted parents to join the students and staff for monthly litter picking days.
Additionally, pupils have designed public posters outlining the need to keep their town clean, and conducted surveys on litter and bin locations within the area.
However, Mallaig Clean has also recognised that properly protecting the Lochaber port’s environment requires more than 69 primary pupils and their teachers.
Because of this, it has also looked for ways in which the community, council, and local businesses can contribute towards a community-wide solution.
Efforts so far have produced positive responses.
Since Mallaig Clean’s launch on February 26 – with BBC Alba and Gaelic radio in attendance – Mallaig Marine has donated logo-ed hi-vis vests, and the Road to the Isles (RttI) Facilities Group has provided litter collection equipment. The RttI Marketing Group is supporting the project via social media.
Students have also received talks from Mallaig Harbour Authority, MOWI, and the region’s marine litter development officer.
“The talks have been relatable because they do statistics and talk about what other areas are doing,” explained Ms Unkles.
“Mallaig Clean is small at the moment, but the pupils can see what it can develop into.”
Some future plans are already being formed.
The eco committee is currently drafting a letter to the council, and there are hopes to install litter storage benches, as used by Beachwatch Bute, as well as better sorting the collected rubbish so it can be recycled into items such as plant pots.
The not-for-profit group has also established means to receive financial donations, through its own PayPal account (www.paypal.com/paypalme/mallaigclean?country) and is actively encouraging more community volunteering.
For the pupils, being part of an enterprising organisation has certainly proven popular.
Asked why they enjoyed the project, P6 pupil Chase and Alice, of P5, mentioned the positive feelings of parent, community and business support.
Meanwhile, fellow P5 pupil Samson said he saw Mallaig Clean as setting a good example.
“By working hard ourselves we are also encouraging other people in our community to think they should put rubbish in the bin too,” he said.
However, he added that cleaning days were made harder by seagulls knocking over the bins.
Ms Unkles, meanwhile, has been delighted with the children finding purpose in their learning through Mallaig Clean.
“They have put in a huge amount of work,” she said. “But with parents supporting us, with the view to making Mallaig a nicer place to live and visit, I think it will pay off.
“I’m a very proud teacher.”
To find out more about the initiative visit the Mallaig Clean Facebook page.
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