How Coca-Cola Foundation Delighted Hundreds of Children as Recycles Pay kicks off

It was all excitement at Isrina Schools, following a visit by The Coca-Cola Foundation and the African Clean Up Initiative (ACI). Their visit marked a rewarding experience for the kids as they were allowed to extend their stay in the school through the Recycles Pay project, a brainchild of ACI, now bolstered by support from The Coca-Cola Foundation.

The children’s faces lit up as new faces flocked into the school. Accompanied by their parents, they trooped into the collection point to turn in recyclable waste. With education becoming increasingly inaccessible in areas such as Ajegunle due to the economic limitations, the Recycles Pay project has proven to be most welcome.

The Recycles Pay programme works in a pretty straightforward manner. Parents deliver recyclables equivalent to their children’s fees to the school.

The school, in conjunction with ACI representatives, will inspect and weigh the recyclables before handing them over to the recycling firm assigned to the school, after which the cash is paid directly into the school’s account. To these kids, recyclable waste isn’t as useless as we perceive them, it’s an item that keeps them in school longer and invariably, enables them to leave the slums for a better life. To their parents, recyclable waste represents a huge burden lifted off their shoulders.

The kids and their parents were full of praise for The Coca-Cola Foundation and African Clean Up Initiative, lauding them for their efforts to improve the quality of their lives.

One of the recipients, Patience Onwuka thanked Coca-Cola for “helping with the school fees and giving them a chance to learn more in school.” Another recipient, Tunrayo Khaliyat, expressed her gratitude to Coca-Cola and ACI for “educating them on how to keep our environment clean and safe to live in.”

With The Coca-Cola Foundation supporting the project, many more kids around the country will have access to education and also be enlightened on proper waste management and environmental wellness.