16-Year-old Khazimla Adam saw how a dangerous waste dump near a school was impacting her community; including the students. Instead of carrying on with her day, she wrote to the mayor and made a difference!
Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa (23 May, 2023)—Next to Stephen Nkomo Primary School, a dangerous waste dump had become a big problem. Seeking to protect the students from the harmful situation, teenage hero Khazimla Adam decided to step in and change things.
The 16-year-old Woodbridge College student shared that she knew she had to do something when she encountered the public health headache.The problem had been growing for years, so much so that the area rife with illegal dumping became a hazardous zone. Pollution effects were stinking up the area and, on top of that, the dump was blocking a portion of the road, forcing motorists and students to share the same lane.
So, the teenage hero wrote to the mayor. And his council. Then engaged the school principal, the school governing body and the community for an epic and long anticipated cleanup.
In the Teenage Hero’s Words:
“I am particularly happy about the Municipality’s prompt response to my request, everything was planned from last week and today the programme is a success thanks to the team work of everyone involved including the pupils.
“Following the clean-up we really hope that residents from this area can listen to children when they say ‘no to illegal dumping’.
“Schools are facilities we should be proud of, they are the cornerstone of our communities, for it to be full of rubbish is not acceptable. My message to all communities is for us to adopt the reduce, reuse and recycle lifestyle so we can live in healthy and conducive communities.”—Khazimla Adam.
Khazimla helped make a difference lifting a huge weight off Stephan Nkomo Primary School’s shoulders, and inspiring other students and older community members to follow her stride.
As a member of the environmental committee in the Nelson Mandela Bay Junior City Council, this councillor has our vote of confidence, and we can’t wait to see where she’ll make a difference next!
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