Shared responsibility: Students launch cleanliness drive in Malir

The Educators students sweep the streets, plant saplings

KARACHI: Armed with face masks, broomsticks and garbage disposal bags, 26 class nine students of The Educators began a cleanliness drive outside their Rafah-e-Aam society campus on Monday.

"Cleaning this street and planting saplings is a surprise for all the people associated with this campus," said Maha Ahmed, who is heading the campaign along with her class fellow Mujeebullah. Titled 'I Am Responsible', the students are cleaning the streets and planting saplings.

The idea surfaced after the students' ethics teacher, Syed Marahim Danial, taught them of their collective responsibility towards society. "When he taught us that we must do something for the betterment of society, we all decided to clean our school and its surrounding area," shared Ahmed.

The students divided themselves into teams of five, which include communications, logistics, media and master of ceremony. All the expenses for the initiative have been borne by the students themselves.

All the brooms, dustpans and garbage cans have been brought by students from their homes, explained Mujeebullah. "We did not force any student to bring anything. They were asked to bring things lying around their house that could be used for the campaign," he added.

"The grass was growing out from the edges of the footpath, which looks horrible," said Ahmed.

He said the students have cut it down and will be planting small plants there to beautify the area. A student who had brought flower saplings for the drive shared that he had a garden at home which made it easy to contribute these plants. "We did not have money to buy vases, so we cut plastic bottles to use them as pots for the plants," Mujeebullah added.

To expand the initiative, the students also plan to collaborate with other campuses nearby.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2017.