01 · KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN AND HEALTHY
What Does “Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy” Mean?
Keeping Zambia clean, green and healthy means taking responsibility for the places where we live, learn, work and play.
Dispose of waste responsibly and avoid littering.
Keep homes, schools, public places and communities clean.
Keep water sources safe from waste and pollution.
Plant trees and care for them so they can survive and grow.
Avoid unnecessary pollution, including unnecessary burning of waste.
Use good personal and environmental hygiene every day.
A clean environment is not only beautiful. It helps protect our health and improve our quality of life.
02 · SANITATION
What Is Sanitation?
Sanitation means having clean and safe conditions for living, including proper management of human waste, wastewater and general cleanliness.
Using toilets properly.
Keeping toilets clean.
Washing hands with soap.
Keeping surroundings clean.
Proper disposal of rubbish.
Keeping drainage systems free from waste.
Diarrhoea and other diseases
Contaminated water
Bad smells
Flies and other disease-carrying insects
Blocked drainage
Unhealthy living conditions
What happens when rubbish is thrown into a drainage channel?
03 · UNDERSTANDING WASTE
Waste Is Not All the Same.
Waste is anything that people throw away because they no longer need it. Examples include food remains, plastic bottles, paper, cardboard, cans, glass, old clothes, leaves and grass.
Use fewer unnecessary materials.
Think before buying or using something that will quickly become waste.
Use an item again.
Reuse suitable items instead of throwing them away after one use.
Turn materials into new products.
Collect suitable materials for recycling where facilities are available.
Instead of throwing away a plastic bottle after using it once, it may be reused where appropriate or collected for recycling.
04 · WASTE SORTING
Separate Waste Before Disposal.
Waste sorting means separating different types of waste before disposal. The class can identify and group suitable demonstration items into Organic · Recyclable · Other Waste.
Food remains, vegetable peels, leaves and grass.
Some organic waste can be used to make compost.
Paper, cardboard, some plastics, metal cans and glass.
These materials may be collected for recycling.
Materials that cannot easily be reused or recycled.
Use appropriate disposal methods for the local setting.
Sort it. Explain it. Discuss it.
The teacher places different waste items on a table. Students identify and group them, then discuss why each item belongs in that group.
05 · TREES AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
Why Should We Plant Trees?
Produce oxygen
Absorb carbon dioxide
Provide shade
Help protect soil
Support birds and other animals
Help protect water sources
Improve the appearance of communities
Help reduce the effects of climate change
Planting a tree is only the beginning.
A tree that is planted but not cared for may not survive. Students can participate at schools, community spaces, appropriate public areas, homes and other approved locations.
06 · POLLUTION AND OUR HEALTH
What We Do to the Environment Can Affect Our Health.
Pollution occurs when harmful substances enter the environment.
Smoke from burning waste and other sources can affect air quality.
Dumping waste into rivers, streams and other water sources can contaminate water.
Improper disposal of waste can make land dirty and unsafe.
What we do to the environment can eventually affect our health.
07 · COMMUNITY ACTION
Community Walk.
The class can conduct a short supervised walk around the school or community. Students should observe and record, rather than disturb or remove anything unsafe.
01Clean areas
02Proper waste bins
03Trees and vegetation
04Clean water points
05Well-maintained facilities
01Litter
02Blocked drains
03Poor waste disposal
04Damaged or missing bins
05Unprotected water sources
06Areas affected by unnecessary burning
07Lack of trees or vegetation
08 · COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP
From Observation to Action.
01Where will we work?
02What equipment is needed?
03Who will participate?
04How will waste be sorted?
05Where will collected waste go?
06What safety precautions are required?
01Work in groups.
02Wear appropriate protective equipment.
03Avoid dangerous objects.
04Sort waste where facilities allow.
05Follow instructions from teachers or supervisors.
06Never handle hazardous materials.
09 · MY CLEAN, GREEN AND HEALTHY ZAMBIA PLEDGE
Make It Personal.
Students can sign their pledges and display them in the classroom.
I pledge to keep my school, home and community clean.
I will dispose of waste responsibly and avoid littering.
I will protect trees and other plants.
I will save water and help protect water sources.
I will encourage others to care for our environment.
I will do my part to make Zambia clean, green and healthy.
10 · DEVELOPMENT ALIGNMENT
Local Action, Global Goals.
Good Health and Well-being
A clean environment and good sanitation help reduce health risks and contribute to healthier communities.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Proper sanitation and responsible waste management help protect water sources and improve access to safe water.
Climate Action
Tree planting, reducing pollution and protecting natural resources can contribute to climate action.
Life on Land
Protecting trees, vegetation, soil and biodiversity helps conserve life on land.
Quality of life, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Clean surroundings, good sanitation and healthy communities contribute to a better quality of life. Young people can contribute by planting trees, protecting natural resources, reducing waste, preventing pollution and supporting environmental conservation.
11 · FINAL CLASS CHALLENGE
One Student — One Environmental Action.
Each student chooses one action they will practise regularly.
12 · KEY TAKEAWAYS
Remember the essentials.
A clean environment supports good health.
Waste should be managed responsibly.
Waste sorting can help reduce pollution and support recycling.
Trees are important for people, animals and the climate.
Water sources must be protected from pollution.
Young people can take practical action in their schools and communities.
Cleaning an environment is important, but preventing pollution is even better.
Keeping Zambia clean, green and healthy is everyone's responsibility.
CLOSING MESSAGE
“A clean Zambia begins with me, starts where I live, and grows through what we do together.”