To commemorate Clean up the Cook Islands Day, primary schools in Aitutaki took part in a lively art competition and an island-wide clean-up effort! Araura Primary, Apii Vaitau and Tekaaroa Adventist stepped up to the challenge, not just with their creativity but with their commitment to keeping Aitutaki beautiful.
Apii Vaitau students eagerly divided into two teams, collecting rubbish around Vaipae and Tautu wharfs. Armed with sacks and gloves provided by NES, the kids managed to gather an impressive six bags of rubbish. Although the bags were light, full of bulky items like packaging, the children quickly filled them. The excitement was palpable as they worked together, even running out of bags at one point!
Over at Araura Primary, the students cleaned up around their school and nearby roads, collecting trash as they ventured through Arutanga and Ureia, finishing strong at Orongo. Their collection included broken bulk plastics, bottles, and other discarded items, amounting to about eight bags of rubbish.
Tekaaroa got in on the action tackling the largest area of land, cleaning from Vaitupa heading inland through Vaipeka right up to Takapora collecting twelve bags filled mostly with cans and bottles, weighing in at approximately three kilograms per bag. While the children were busy making a difference, staff and parents were disappointed to see so many alcohol-related items like beer bottles and cans in the mix. A big thank you to Waste Management for their usual weekly efforts and for working alongside the schools to collect the filled bags of rubbish.
On top of their clean-up efforts, the children showcased their artistic talents. Under the guidance of teachers, the students created art inspired by the theme “What does a Clean Cook Islands Look Like?” The artwork was vibrant and full of imagination, showing the children’s hope for a cleaner, greener future.
This clean-up not only brightened the landscape but also sent a powerful message about waste—especially the alarming amount of alcohol-related litter found. As the art competition wraps up, we’ll be sharing the children’s stunning artwork and their important message on social media. This day was not just about cleaning, but also about inspiring change, and these young champions did exactly that.
Stay tuned for updates and congratulations to our young environmental champions! To reward the children’s fantastic efforts, NES was happy to treat them to ice cream, a sweet ending to a productive and meaningful day!
