ZeroPlastic Club Conducts Phase 2.2 Dhamma School Awareness Programme at Thihagoda

The ZeroPlastic Club of the University of Ruhuna conducted the Dhamma School Awareness Programme, Phase 2.2, at Sri Vanarathana Dhamma School, Pahala Witiyala, Thihagoda, on 6 September 2026. The programme, held from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m., focused on educating young school students about the harmful effects of single-use plastic consumption and introducing the 3R concept of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

The programme was organized as part of the ZeroPlastic Club’s ongoing efforts to develop environmental awareness among younger age groups. Its primary purpose was to help school students understand how single-use plastic items contribute to environmental pollution and to encourage them to adopt responsible consumption habits from an early age.

During the session, ZeroPlastic volunteers explained the environmental, wildlife, and health impacts associated with common single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, straws, disposable cups, and food packaging. The 3R concept was introduced through simple explanations and practical examples, with students learning how minimizing plastic use, reusing products, and separating recyclable waste can reduce pollution. Volunteers encouraged the school students to carry reusable bags and water bottles, avoid unnecessary disposable products, and separate recyclable materials correctly.

The session was designed to be interactive, with questions and answers incorporated throughout to encourage active participation and assess understanding. School students shared their own ideas about plastic pollution and environmental protection during these activities. Small eco-friendly pens were presented as gifts to the winners of the question-and-answer segments, reinforcing the programme’s message of choosing environmentally responsible alternatives.

In addition to the classroom-based awareness session, a practical conservation activity was carried out through the planting of a Mee plant (Madhuca longifolia) within the temple premises, …