This Tuesday, May 17th, is the Day of Recycling. ARCORES works in the care of the Common House in different projects, but, in addition, in different schools of the Augustinian Recollect Family, children are taught the importance of recycling and protecting the environment.
Schools in Spain
In the Colegio San Agustín in Valladolid (Spain), the students of the 4th year of ESO (Secondary Education), together with their tutors, have cleaned the Arcas Reales, an old shepherds’ trail behind the school. Meanwhile, in the subject of Scientific Culture, they have been making proposals for remodelling and restoring dilapidated buildings to turn them into the sustainable homes of the future. Their 3rd year ESO classmates, in turn, have made moulds out of milk cartons in the Technology subject. Primary school students, meanwhile, received workshops coordinated by Valladolid City Council and Ecoembes on the benefits of separating waste. As a result of these talks, recycling points were set up throughout the school.
Mural with bottle caps
The school in Motril (Spain) also has a recycling point, while setting annual targets for reducing electricity, water, paper, toner, etc. At San Agustín School in Chiclana (Spain) they make various handicrafts with recyclable materials, such as murals with bottle caps. They also have a clean point for batteries, paper, etc., and have a project to reduce the consumption of aluminium foil among pupils. This consists of collecting this material throughout the year and making a giant ball, as well as holding a competition to use paper balls.
Centres in Costa Rica and Colombia
At Ciudad de los Niños in Cartago (Costa Rica), there is a group called Respiro Ecológico, made up of students from the institution who are committed to protecting the environment. Among the main functions of this group is the collection and separation of waste. Every Saturday they meet at the centre’s collection point to receive waste from the hostels and residences. They are in charge of keeping these places tidy and periodically send the waste to an authorised waste manager. In addition, in various parts of the centre there are clean or ecological points.
The Uniagustiniana of Bogotá (Colombia) has a programme to incorporate the principles of sustainability in all the operations and processes of the institution, in such a way that it manages to permeate its three substantive functions: teaching (its educational processes), research (prioritising the transfer to society), extension (giving account of the responsibility of the academy with society and its relationship and commitment to the environment). It also has a guide to sustainable purchases and services.
Schools in Argentina
At the Colegio San José de Villa Maipú (Buenos Aires, Argentina), sleeping bags were made with milk cartons, which were then given to homeless people (you can see a video about the project here). In addition, at the Colegio Agustiniano de San Andrés, the students made matching games with recycled material, which were given to a children’s home. They also made pencil cases with recycled material, and students donated used school supplies in good condition. Finally, at the Mar del Plata school they have a project with eco-bricks to build the perimeter fence of the dining room of the San Isidro Labrador chapel neighbourhood.
