Our volunteer work to SHALIN in Meru has started well. One thing we
have started in collaboration with Meru Museum is a program on plastic
bags. The program aims at highlighting the benefits of traditional
containers compared to plastic containers used widely nowadays. The
pupils that will visit Meru museum will be involved in variousactivities
in learning about different containers and their environmental effects.
Program will be going on October – December 2007.

The programme
aims to sensitize youth on the value of traditional containers and
reinforce a their cultural practices and values, and to create
awareness on problems of plastic bags and containers. In addition, it
will introduce pupils to eco-friendly options that are sustainable and
with a minimised ecological footprint.

Historical and environmental background

The
advent of colonialism in Kenya opened Kenya to western culture. Along
with it came industrialization and urbanization and therefore changes
in social, economical and political lifestyles. Traditional industries,
such as pottery, basketry, carving and weaving, collapsed. Khaki bags
were replaced by plastic bags, tins by plastic containers. Clay pots
were replaced by metal sufuria. This affected not only the culture but
also environment.  Read more at our update site: http://familytreecampaign.org/index.php?blogId=5