ZeroPlastic Club Brings Greenora Mangrove Awareness Programme to Tangalle Girls School

The ZeroPlastic Club of the Ocean University of Sri Lanka organized Greenora, a mangrove conservation awareness program, at Tangalle Girls School (Tangalle Balika Vidyalaya) on May 27, 2026. The project, themed “Caring for Tomorrow, Today,” was designed to educate school students on the ecological importance of mangroves and foster environmental responsibility among young learners.

The program aimed to introduce students to the role mangroves play in coastal protection, biodiversity, and the support of fisheries. Schools were identified as an effective starting point for environmental education, with the understanding that awareness built among school students can extend into their families and broader communities.

The session took place from 9:30 to 10:30 AM and was attended by school students, teaching staff, and ZeroPlastic volunteers. A speaker holding a special degree related to mangrove ecosystems led the session, covering topics including climate change and mangrove ecosystem stability, biodiversity conservation in Sri Lankan mangrove forests, and the impact of microplastic and plastic pollution. Students received plants and handmade bookmarks as take-home materials to serve as reminders of the day’s lessons.

The project was led by Project Head A.R. Uththara Sadamini Amarasinghe, with support from ZeroPlastic Club President Sithum Nanayakkara and Senior Advisor Mrs. S. Nesha Dushani. Greenora Committee members and university volunteers contributed to organizing and delivering the program. The team prepared handmade materials within a limited timeframe and coordinated with the school to schedule the session around academic commitments.

School students participated actively during the session. Following the program, students left written notes of thanks, reflecting a positive reception of the awareness content. The combination of an educational session with tangible take-home items such as plants and bookmarks provided participants with practical connect…