This year, the ZeroPlastic Colombo Community took a bold step toward shaping a cleaner, greener future through its flagship initiative, GreenForce. Launched in alignment with the goals of the ZeroPlastic National Movement, GreenForce focuses on establishing ZeroPlastic Clubs in schools across the Colombo district, creating youth-led spaces where students can learn, lead, and take meaningful action against plastic pollution.
Through this initiative, four schools—Ananda Shasthralaya, Kotte; Bomiriya Central College; Janadipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Kotte; and Don Pedrick Maha Vidyalaya, Horana—now have fully operational ZeroPlastic Clubs. The journey began with careful coordination with school authorities, some of whom reached out proactively, recognizing the value of structured environmental programs. Before officially launching the clubs, the ZeroPlastic team conducted engaging awareness sessions for students, teachers, and staff, sharing the mission and work of the ZeroPlastic Colombo Community while highlighting the urgency of reducing single-use plastics, the global and local impacts of plastic pollution, and the rising role of youth activism in shaping sustainable futures.
These sessions were more than just educational—they inspired students to see themselves as agents of change, motivating them to take action both inside and outside the classroom. By establishing the clubs, GreenForce ensures that environmental awareness extends beyond individual lessons, creating ongoing opportunities for students to organize clean-up drives, awareness campaigns, upcycling projects, and peer-led educational initiatives throughout the school year.
Beyond activities, GreenForce nurtures a culture of sustainability within each school, fostering a sense of responsibility, teamwork, and empowerment that continues long after the program team departs. In creating these youth-led hubs, the ZeroPlastic Colombo Community is not only educating young minds but also planting seeds of change that will grow into a cleaner, more sustainable Sri Lanka.
