Children have been given the opportunity to make their own music by crafting instruments from recyclable items as part of the Re-Trade Project.
Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa – Recycling should be an inclusive activity for all ages and stages, which is the reason behind The Re-Trade Projects new programme, Bash The Trash. The Re-Trade Project seeks to promote sustainable living while promoting social justice in Nelson Mandela Bay.
This month, the Re-Trade Project launched a locally developed programme called Bash the Trash encouraging children to make their own instruments out of waste and play it along to a simple song. This innovative approach was created out of a need for South African based education material and resources for children and classrooms on the topic of recycling.
By proving the public with free interactive online resources for classrooms to access, Bash the Trash encourages and educates children about recycling in a simple and fun way. Re-Trade hopes this programme will engage the future generations of recyclers while offering teachers and parents an opportunity to promote a culture of sustainable living in their classrooms and homes.
“This programme is easy to use and freely available for children ages 4-12 years old. Making music together is part of a socio-cultural education model which has the potential to encourage social awareness, creativity as well as begin conversations with children regarding the environment.” – Jessica Ronaasen, a social worker from Port Elizabeth
Music is a creative way to facilitate a connection between children, share a message and allow for freedom of expression. Children will benefit in a classroom environment from the shared learning experience of making their own instruments and playing along to the downloadable track.
Stefan Uys, writer and composer of the Bash the Trash lyrics for the catchy jingle, comments that “Bash the trash was such a refreshing and different experience for us in the studio, and really highlighted how music can be used to bring people together through harmony and a common vision. The idea of making instruments from recycled everyday objects really hit home for us, as we saw the feasibility and applicability of this amazing project right from within the studio. We are really happy with the result, and we hope that in our way we have aided in the success of this incredible initiative!”.
By providing an opportunity for children to create a common beat, sing together, play instruments together, even form band – Bash the Trash seeks to encourage learning through play and crafts. Recycled materials are accessible to schools from all areas and backgrounds. By creating an online programme Re-Trade is inviting schools from across South Africa to benefit from this education initiative.
Proudly supported by South Africa Breweries, this project has the intention of leaving a legacy and creating a culture of sustainability and environmental awareness.
Aviwe Filita, Regional Coordinator for SAB comments that “This project is a unique way of leaving a legacy where even the youngest South African can be aware of the importance of keeping the environment clean. We encourage schools, parents and families to get involved ”
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