“the Greatness of a Community is most Accurately Measured by the Compassionate Actions of it’s Members” — Coretta Scott King
Attan Offot Community used to be highly affected by flooding but thanks to the proactive Government that initiated the construction of a well drainage system. However, it is one thing to build and another to maintain and we saw the need to carry out a sensitization and awareness program and have a round-table dialogue with the villagers and the inhabitants of the community.
On this note, The Safe Space Development Foundation (SHADEF) carried out a Comprehensive awareness program at the Atan Offot Village Council with the elders in council, village chairman, chiefs, women and the youths in attendance, focusing on climate change education, environmental pollution and the effect of inadequate ways of plastic disposal. The program’s goal was to raise awareness among the villagers to have a better idea on the effects of inadequate disposal of plastic waste and ways to stop them.
Upon arrival, the team from SHADEF, led by Director Comrade Evelyn Eyo, was warmly received by the elders in council.
Comrade Evelyn Eyo delivered an insightful session on oil spillage as one of the most dangerous cause of climate change that it refers to the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.
She focused on the effects of climate change, the responsible and appropriate use of plastics, which includes recycling, reducing, and reusing them to create less plastic in the environment and eventually eliminating plastics entirely.
She also displayed some of the things made of plastics to include market bags for women, apron, table cover and others.
The resource person, Mr. Mfon Gabriel started by saying that the environment is our life, and that we get everything for our day to day activities from the environment and the need to protect it is very important. He emphasized on the causes of environmental and climate changes to include, bad planting methods, deforestation and sewage disposal. He emphasized that we should embrace sustainable practices like practising shifting cultivation, cleaning of drainage, building in the right place building above ground level to avoid the issue of flooding.
There was an interesting conversation during which the villagers actively participated, asked questions that cuts across how to get this plastics, ways to dispose them and the alternatives ways if they are doing away with plastics.
In respond from the village head, His Royal Highness, Ette Idung Idongesit Ekong, he said that if organizations like this existed long before now, it will have helped the environment to be cleaner than it is now. He also confirmed his support to the organization by saying that he will issue out notice for people to gather this plastics to make the environment cleaner and safer.
He also thanked the organization for bringing this outreach to the community and pray that god bless them.
