Sustainable synergy: Clean Up @ South West 2024 unites partners to cultivate eco-consciousness in the community and schools

Clean Up @ South West 2024 has brought together corporates, schools and residents in a collective effort to realise the shared vision of a Sustainable South West. This year’s event highlights the South West Community Development Council (CDC)’s commitment to build a more sustainable community through partnerships with schools, corporations and other community partners. Residents learnt more about sustainable living through interactive booths set up by partners.

To further instil eco-consciousness among students and to start green education from young, the CDC partnered Life3 Biotech Pte Ltd in rolling out a set of activity booklets to engage students. The booklets were unveiled by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry and Ms Low Yen Ling, Mayor of South West District on 28 January 2024.

Specially curated for primary and secondary school students, the activity booklets are part of GROW @ South West (GReen On Wednesday), a programme that aims to nurture our youth to become stewards of the environment and develop their understanding and care for food security, health and sustainability.

Studies have shown that hands-on learning experiences are pivotal in delivering effective sustainability education. With fun and engaging exercises that encourage learning through play, the activity booklets will allow students to gain a deeper understanding of how their lifestyle choices can make an impact on the environment. Students can also translate this knowledge into action, by opting for Peasy Balls – plant-based balls, which are integrated into the schools’ canteen menus for a 4-week period.

As part of GROW @ South West, Life3 Biotech will also be working with ITE College West to craft innovative recipes using the Peasy Balls. The innovative dishes will be on showcase at the event for participants to taste. Participants will also be able to learn more about Peasy Balls and how they can incorporate sustainable eating into their daily lives. In addition, the South West CDC has been actively promoting sustainability education to schools through the Green Schools @ South West programme since it was launched in 2007. In 2023, the programme has reached out to more than 40,000 youth from 42 schools. Please refer to Annex A for the full list of activity booths at the event.

Mayor Low Yen Ling says, “We aim to cultivate green habits and eco-values among the students of South West district through the GROW @ South West programme. Last year, we reached out to some 40,000 youth from 42 schools. As the children and youth make sustainable practices their way of life, we will be able to speed up our green transformation and better protect our environment. Our long-standing Clean Up @ South West effort is an annual effort that has collected over 1,000 tonnes of recyclables since 2006. This is equivalent to saving more than 18,000 trees. Every action or contribution, no matter how big or small, is valuable and adds up to create a better world.”

Mr Ricky Lin, CEO and Founder of Life3 Biotech, says, “GROW @ South West creates teachable moments and encourages students to be more proactive in making informed meal decisions. Youths today are the leaders of tomorrow, hence by instilling eco-consciousness at a young age, our aim is for this practice to become a lasting habit in adulthood, inspiring meaningful change and cultivating responsible consumers to lead a healthier and sustainable lifestyle while contributing to a more food resilient Singapore.”

Close to 1,100 tonnes of recyclables has been collected since 2006, which is equivalent to saving more than 18,300 trees. As part of Clean Up @ South West 2024, a total of 76 recycling points were set up across the district for residents to bring down their recyclables.

Clean Up @ South West is an annual recycling programme organised by the South West Community Development Council (CDC), supported by Grassroots Organisations (GROs) in the district, corporate partners and schools. The programme has been organised in the South West District since 2006 and supports the Sustainable South West (SSW) masterplan4 ‘Our Zero Waste Journey’ pillar to reduce waste as a community and increase residents’ awareness of the importance of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), as well as ‘Our Active, Gracious People’ pillar to celebrate and showcase the efforts of like-minded stakeholders, promote environmental ownership and a caring and sharing community.

Annex A – Activity Booths