The Trash Hack initiative, an ESD campaign, was launched by UNESCO in September 2020 to inspire young people to learn about sustainability by tackling rubbish. Sadly, the globe creates approximately 2 billion tonnes of garbage each year. As we already know, trash pollutes our waterways, fills our cities, and litters vast swaths of the globe and Ghana and its cities and towns are not exempted.
Ghanaians create over 1.1 million tonnes of plastic garbage each year, with only about 5% of that being collected for recycling. This means that we shall be engulfed by waste if deliberate measures are not put in place. Perhaps, advocacy and change of attitude coupled with policy can salvage the situation.
Therefore, the Ghana Commission for UNESCO continues to advocate easy acts that young people may take to combat waste in their neighbourhoods, homes, and even in schools. This outreach is mostly done through the UNESCO Clubs in the second cycle and tertiary institutions. These UNESCO Clubs advocate for transformative education as indicated in SDG target 4.7, which includes education for sustainable development, global citizenship education, and health education and well-being.
To contribute to the fight against trash, on March 12, 2022, UNESCO Club Members at Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) held a trash hack campaign. Hand-held fans, pencil/pen holders, bedroom lamp, air freshener dispenser, toys, waterholes, and other items designed by the pupils were displayed.
The Ghana Commission for UNESCO wishes to express its gratitude to Mr Arko Dometey (Principal-ATTC), Rev. Mordecai A. Nickson–Nubuor (Vice Principal Academics-ATTC), Mr Theophilus Yaw Kofito (Vice Principal Administration-ATTC), Madam Theresa Amarquaye (Tutor & ATTC UNESCO Club Coordinator), Master Stephen Teye (UNESCO Club President, ATTC) and all club members for making the campaign a success.