Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Duo put school on eco map
The two DF Malan High pupils’ push to get zero-waste status and find methods of saving water for the school did not go unnoticed
DF MALAN High School is well-known for dominating the MTBS athletics and singing competitions, but now Grade 12 learners Erik van Graan and Dané van Rooyen have put the school on the environmental map.
The journey started in 2017 at Two Oceans Aquarium when Erik and Dané took part in the Marine Science Discoverer course and, as they say, the rest is history.
Erik said they spent four days covering theory, vital for volunteering, microscope and touch pool exhibits.
“The remaining days we spent at a local environmental education camp site, where we focused on practical work and team building.”
At the end of the one-week programme, they needed to do an environmental clean-up and start an eco-club to complete the course and receive their certificates.
“Dané and I received the diamond certificate after we both scored more than 80% for the activities. We started our own eco-club at school because we did not have one and our environmental action was cleaning the Jack Muller Park in Boston,” said Erik, who learnt leadership and people skills during his time at the aquarium.
“We were exposed to different religions and backgrounds because people came from all over the country,” he said .
Since then, the school has held a number of environmental projects such a recycling where learners brought unused paper, getting the school to a zero-waste status and methods of trying to save water.
Their efforts did not go unnoticed after they were crowned champions of the 2018 Environmental Project.
“We want to become a zero-waste landfill school. Everything that can’t be re-recycled, we turn into eco-bricks.
“Such an example is in every classroom at school. We have two 2L bottles where pupils throw in all the rubbish that can’t be recycled,” said Dané.
Last month, the school’s Grade 8s went on their annual big walk from Melkbosstrand to Blaauwberg where learners were encouraged to pick up waste on the beach.
“It was good to see the Grade 8s helping out and see what the ecoclub does at school.
“Being part of something that you don’t know can be terrifying,” said Dané, who believed learners were always up for a challenge when it comes to having environmental projects at school.
“We get the pupils involved by having competitions between the classes and grades. They get competitive because of having friends in different classes and we offer a small rewards.
“Credit should go to Samantha Prinsloo who does the marketing for the school and teachers Mette Warnich, Retha Strydom and Celesté Wepener who helped us,” she said.
When not busy sharpening their environmental skills, Erik serves on the school’s senior student council. He was also the team captain at yesterday’s MTBS track and field meet and made the Western Province schools’ hockey team in 2017.
Dané, on the other hand, is a member of the school’s orchestra where she plays the flute.
“It is fun and I love music. To play music with other people inspires me.”