Iwerekun Community embraced innovative, eco-friendly and sustainable approaches toward the cleanup of her shores as both young and old in the community contributed positively to the Giving Orientation Program which was sponsored by First E & P, championed by Sterling One Foundation and executed by African Cleanup Initiative on Saturday, 5th of March, 2022.
It was a remarkable day for them as the youths in the community joined in the arrangement of the spot for the training while waiting for the community leaders to grace the event with their presence. The event started at 9 am with Mrs Blessing Onyelekwe (Head of Operations) who welcomed and addressed the community members and explained the reason why we have all gathered. After which, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe (CEO, Sterling One Foundation) took turns to reintroduce and explain in Yoruba language, the purpose of the beach adoption and how they will join in the action as the first guardians of the beach.
The next session hosted the announcement of the names of volunteers who would clean the beaches three times in a week by the Youth Chairman after which Mrs Blessing Onyelekwe educated them on environmental sanitation and trained them on how to use the tools effectively and how precautionary measures should be taken before, during and after cleanup of the beach area. The Baale of the community was most delightful and compliant. He strictly addressed and advised the community members to cooperate as whatever will be done would be to their benefit.
All these were followed by a brief cleanup exercise comprising of participants, partners and the community members. 6.3kg of recyclables were recovered and 146.4kg of solid wastes were recovered.
The event ended as a success as the community members seemed quite elated to have witnessed the newly introduced project. 22 community members were impacted, 6.3kg of recyclables were recovered and 146.4kg of solid wastes were recovered.
