Kololo SSS designs talking compound

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Kololo Senior Secondary School has designed a talking compound as a strategy for raising awareness about climate change and climate variability. This is the second year in which the school is participating in the Green Schools Initiative competition.

Rachael Akol, the coordinator of the project at the school, says when they competed last year, they won shillings 10m grant.

Akol says they have so far used sh9.7m to buy dustbins, signposts, and a link fence that encloses all the green spaces, and it is typically made out of bottles.

Students displaying some of the signposts with climate conservation messages

However, because of limited funding, the link fence did not cover the entire school premises.

The project, which is in the second phase, is funded by the Embassy of Sweden and co-implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Vision Group.

This year, a total of 100 schools from 10 districts across the country are competing for the cash prize. The competition is part of the activities under the Green Schools Initiative that New Vision is implementing with FAO.

Akol (right) addressing students during the cementing of signposts at Kololo SSS yesterday

“Since we have a talking compound, we designed messages and pictures that correspond with environmental conservation. Each message that is on the poster communicates to the learners directly what they are supposed to do to protect the environment,” Akol says.

As you approach the school grounds, the signposts make it clear that you need to be environmentally responsible.

“We have put these messages everywhere to create awareness among the learners. We want them to be responsible both at school and when they return to their communities,” Akol says.

A student puts one of the signposts

While addressing students at the assembly on Thursday, the headteacher of Kololo SSS, Edward Kanoonya, urged students to keep the environment clean. Noting that our environment is our responsibility.

“The environment is ours and we should protect it. The environment contributes to our survival and if it is mismanaged, our survival is equally threatened. Let us embrace environment campaigns, and we stop littering,” Kanoonya said.