For this 11-year-old boy, summer holidays are not just fun

Abu Dhabi - He has launched a plastic-free July campaign in response to a global call by the UN to take action on climate change.

An 11-year-old student in Abu Dhabi is dedicating his summer holidays to working for a cause close to his heart.
Sainath Manikandan, Grade 7 student at Gems United Indian School, Abu Dhabi, has launched a plastic-free July campaign titled PEPC, which stands for paper, e-waste, plastic and cans, in response to global call by the UN to take action on climate change.
Sainath told Khaleej Times: "The main aim of this campaign is to help people to refuse single-use plastics and improve their recycling methods. Instead of just talking about three Rs, I feel it's high time we start to follow 6Rs - reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, rethink and refuse."
Sainath, who also tutors children on robotics at a summer camp at the Vision Kids Training Center, Mussafah, will be taking the campaign to India at the end of this month as he will be flying to meet his relatives in Kerala and Chennai.
"Educating young minds will surely make an impact towards preserving the earth's resources for the future, which is why I am looking to create awareness in schools and among my friends who stay in my neighbourhood in Kerala. I will create awareness and give presentations to youngsters and even general public and nearby cafes about the importance of recycling, reusing and avoiding use of plastics. Also since we don't have many recycling centres for e-waste in India, I will check with airport authorities if I can bring some e-waste with me to Dubai for recycling," he said.
With the PEPC campaign, Sainath and his sister Sai Sahana have been going to malls, restaurants and shops educating shopkeepers about the ill-effects of plastic usage and giving them alternatives. The duo is also doing rounds in their neighbourhood, collecting recyclable wastes such as papers, e-wastes, plastics and cans. They also speak about the importance natural resources and the steps that can be taken to preserve them.
"My neighbours do take interest in recycling and bring their old notebooks, textbooks and carton boxes for recycling. They are also learning the importance of recycling and saving paper which indirectly saves cutting down of trees."
Sainath feels that the amount of waste output from the UAE is very high and most of these wastes can be recycled. "Refuse disposable plastic whenever and wherever possible. Choose items that are not packaged in plastic, and carry your own jute/cotton bags, steel/glass containers and utensils. Say no to plastic straws, food packaging, shopping bags, spoons and cups," he said.
Sainath feels that youth today just needs to take one step at a time to save and heal our planet. "Raising environmental awareness is very important and crucial not only for the present generation but also for the future. I believe that together we can create a wave of change. People of all ages should understand the present danger that our world is facing. All of us should take a step forward and rethink plastic, reduce, reuse and recycle," he added.
- saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi