{"id":4060,"date":"2024-07-17T13:17:10","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T13:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wastebanc.com\/?p=4060"},"modified":"2024-07-17T13:17:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T13:17:13","slug":"how-this-eco-warrior-is-transforming-the-way-nigerian-children-understand-and-engage-with-environmental-issues-one-classroom-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/2024\/07\/17\/how-this-eco-warrior-is-transforming-the-way-nigerian-children-understand-and-engage-with-environmental-issues-one-classroom-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How This Eco-Warrior Is Transforming the Way Nigerian Children Understand and Engage with Environmental Issues, One Classroom at a Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This inspiring conversation with Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu, the dynamic young founder of Recyclub, highlights her journey into climate education and recycling advocacy. Discover how this passionate advocate is transforming the way Nigerian children understand and engage with environmental issues, one classroom at a time. From creating a relatable, African-focused curriculum to launching the innovative Recycle for Education Drive, Mosimileoluwa is not just teaching the next generation about climate change\u2014she’s empowering them to be the change-makers of tomorrow.<\/p>\nWastebanc<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> How did you get into environmental issues and recycling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong>\u00a0Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0I started\u00a0Recyclub\u00a0after noticing school kids knew little about climate change.\u00a0Seeing its effects like pollution and extreme weather conditions pushed me to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> Absolutely, climate change is affecting us all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong>\u00a0Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0*Nods* A 2020 report showed\u00a0that\u00a06 out of 10 Nigerians\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard of climate change. Even those\u00a0who\u00a0didn’t\u00a0know how to act.\u00a0The thing is,\u00a0sometimes it can be like a chore trying to convince adults about changing their lifestyle and trying to switch\u00a0from what\u00a0they’re\u00a0used to, you know, an average Nigerian is concerned about\u00a0what he eats, where\u00a0to\u00a0live,\u00a0how to make\u00a0money.\u00a0I realised educating kids early was key since\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0more open to learning and making changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> That\u2019s a smart approach. Did you have climate education as a child?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu:<\/strong> Yes, my mom taught me not to litter from a young age. Kids absorb what they learn, so teaching them about climate change and recycling early on sticks with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> How did you kickstart your advocacy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong> I saw the lack of African-focused educational materials, so I developed a curriculum tailored for African kids. Most of the resources out there were not tailored to the African child and it\u2019s important that if I’m to teach a child in Bariga about climate change, I don\u2019t show them pictures from European countries. It won\u2019t resonate with them. At best, it can stir up eco-anxiety. Teaching them with relatable examples makes a bigger impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> How long have you been at this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong> Since September 2021, we\u2019ve reached over 400 kids in Lagos and Ogun state. We focus on low-income schools, teaching kids to understand and act on climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> Tell us about the Recycle for Education Drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

It\u2019s important that if I’m to teach a child in Bariga about climate change, I don\u2019t show them pictures from European countries. It won\u2019t resonate with them.<\/p>\nMosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong>  Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu: Because of my involvement with children, I realized that there were a lot of smart children in some of the schools that we visited that did not have access to the required materials, some weren’t in school or some of them did not even have things they need because their parents could not afford it. And then these areas also had a huge plastic waste problem. We decided to launch a subproject under Recyclub called the Recycle for Education Drive. It is a recycling program that utilizes the huge plastic waste in these areas to pay for the fees of children. We had the beta phase in March and then we officially launched in October 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> How do you handle scepticism or lack of interest from kids and parents?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong> We mainly work through schools, not directly with parents. \u200bWe also engage community members, letting them know that our initiative would keep the environment clean, but we’re also paying fees for some children who will need it. You don’t have to do anything. Just throw the bottles in this bin and that’s all. That’s how we got them to come on board and contribute to the project. Once school owners are on board, parents are usually excited about the extra education their kids get for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> Any schools turned you down?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong> Some government schools have, due to politics and red tape. We focus on private schools where we\u2019ve had good reception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> What are the key lessons you teach kids about recycling and climate change?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong> We cover what climate change is, its causes, and solutions. We use simple, relatable examples to explain concepts like greenhouse gases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> What keeps you motivated despite challenges?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa<\/strong> Alabi-<\/strong>Orgu<\/strong>:<\/strong> I love teaching kids and care deeply about the environment. Even when facing volunteer or financial challenges, I focus on the bigger picture and the impact we\u2019re making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> Has this journey changed you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu:<\/strong> It\u2019s given me a better understanding of how the NGO space works and the challenges of securing funding. But my passion for the cause remains unchanged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> How can Wastebanc support young environmental champions like you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu:<\/strong> We need more drop-off points for recycling. Expanding bin locations would make it easier for people to contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> What are your future goals for climate education and recycling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu:<\/strong> We plan to train teachers to ensure continuity, host climate conferences for kids, and expand the Recycle for Education Drive across Lagos, Ibadan, and Ogun State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wastebanc:<\/strong> Any advice for young people starting in this field?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu:<\/strong> Make sure you\u2019re in it for the right reasons. If someone\u2019s already doing what you want to do, collaborate with them. If not, start something impactful on your own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This inspiring conversation with Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu, the dynamic young founder of Recyclub, highlights her journey into climate education and recycling advocacy. Discover how this passionate advocate is transforming the way Nigerian children understand and engage with environmental issues, one classroom at a time. From creating a relatable, African-focused curriculum to launching the innovative Recycle for Education Drive, Mosimileoluwa is not just teaching the next generation about climate change\u2014she’s empowering them to be the change-makers of tomorrow. Wastebanc Wastebanc: How did you get into environmental issues and recycling? Mosimileoluwa\u00a0Alabi-Orgu:\u00a0I started\u00a0Recyclub\u00a0after noticing school kids knew little about climate change.\u00a0Seeing its effects like pollution and extreme weather conditions pushed me to take action. Wastebanc: Absolutely, climate change is affecting us all. Mosimileoluwa\u00a0Alabi-Orgu:\u00a0\u00a0*Nods* A 2020 report showed\u00a0that\u00a06 out of 10 Nigerians\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard of climate change. Even those\u00a0who\u00a0didn’t\u00a0know how to act.\u00a0The thing is,\u00a0sometimes it can be like a chore trying to convince adults about changing their lifestyle and trying to switch\u00a0from what\u00a0they’re\u00a0used to, you know, an average Nigerian is concerned about\u00a0what he eats, where\u00a0to\u00a0live,\u00a0how to make\u00a0money.\u00a0I realised educating kids early was key since\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0more open to learning and making changes. Wastebanc: That\u2019s a smart approach. Did you have climate education as a child? Mosimileoluwa Alabi-Orgu: Yes, my mom taught me not …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4060"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4060"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4068,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4060\/revisions\/4068"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wastebancng.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}