State school students carry out environmental cleanup in honor of World Cleanup Day
More than 25,000 students carried out waste collection and awareness actions in the streets of various municipalities in Pará
In celebration of World Cleanup Day, celebrated on September 20, approximately 25,000 students from the state education network participated in a large environmental mobilization in various municipalities in Pará this Friday (19).
The initiative aims to raise awareness among the population about the importance of proper waste disposal and environmental preservation.
The action involved more than 60 state schools. In Belém, about 200 students from the Bilíngue Mestra Idalina Rodrigues Pereira State School, located in the Icoaraci district, took to the streets and the waterfront of the district to collect waste, distribute environmental awareness booklets written by the students themselves, and present a parody inspired by the anthem of Pará, addressing the five “R’s” of sustainability: rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The environmental education specialist from the Environmental Education Coordination (CEAM) of Seduc, Emlly Silva, spoke about the relevance of the theme. “World Cleanup Day mobilizes Brazil and the world. For our students in the state network, it is essential to create the habit of not wasting, recycling, reusing, and mobilizing others against irregular waste disposal. By participating, they become multipliers, raising awareness among family and friends. Today, we had schools from the Metropolitan Region and several Regional Directorates from the interior, such as Bragança, which will carry out a similar action tomorrow on the waterfront of Ajuruteua, involving teachers in waste collection,” said Emily.
For student Stela Rodrigues, from the 1st year of high school at the Idalina Rodrigues Bilingual School, the experience was remarkable. “I am amazed. The first time we came here, there was a lot of trash. Today, we noticed that there was much less. Our action had an effect. We need to leave the school and act for the city and the people because it is important for our health.”
Schools from São Caetano de Odivelas, Concórdia do Pará, Vigia, Benevides, and Marituba also carried out environmental activities. PET bottles and other waste discarded on public roads were collected.
Student Artur Reis, also from the 1st year of high school at the Idalina School, highlighted the engagement of his peers. “It is a very beautiful action that takes students out of the classroom to raise awareness among people not to throw trash on the street. I feel happy to take care of our space. If it is clean, we all feel good. Why not take care of the planet?”
Biology and Environmental Education teacher Ângelo Moreira emphasized the pedagogical importance of the initiative. “We anticipated the action to reach a larger number of people. The students will take this awareness home and into their communities. We need to maintain climate balance, and that starts with preservation and daily care.”
The action is part of the program “My Future, My Voice – World Cleanup Day Mission,” promoted by the Limpa Brasil Institute, in partnership with the Government of the State of Pará, through the State Department of Education (Seduc), and with the support of the Executive Secretariat of Urban Services of Belém (Sezel) and the Municipal Secretary of the Environment (Semma).
The executive director of the Limpa Brasil Institute, Edilainne Muniz, praised the partnership with Seduc. “What we are seeing here is also happening in other schools in the State. When we manage to unite efforts and speak the same language of environmental awareness, we form committed citizens. This integration with Seduc, which already has environmental education included in the curriculum, gives us hope. Seeing students in the streets, putting into practice what they learn, shows that it is possible to transform attitudes.”
At the end of the day, the mobilization accounted for more than 25,000 students from over 60 state schools in about 20 municipalities. Together, they collected hundreds of kilograms of recyclable and organic waste from the streets, waterfronts, and public spaces, leaving a legacy of awareness and environmental care for their communities.
