Tiny Tots Lead Mangrove Planting
Ms Waqalala is the assistant director at Bright Little Ones Children Services, a kindergarten at Muanikau in Nasese, Suva.
Wednesday 31 July 2019 | 16:11
Sailasa Sevaivalu, 5, of Bright Little Ones Children Services plants a mangrove seedling along the Nasese foreshore on July 30, 2019. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Art and music are not the only knowledge that we should impart to our children, but also basic things like environmental protection.
The sentiments of Vere Waqalala, materialised into action as her kindergarten students joined her to plant mangroves yesterday along the Nasese foreshore.
Ms Waqalala is the assistant director at Bright Little Ones Children Services, a kindergarten at Muanikau in Nasese, Suva.
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“We have been teaching children about the ocean for the past few weeks and we decided to do a project to actually set an example,” Ms Waqalala said.
“We covered the different types of sea shores like the sandy and rocky seashores and the children also learnt about the importance of mangroves.
The children understand why they need to plant mangroves and how it helps the ecosystem.”
She thanked the Ministry of Forests for providing them with more than 1000 mangrove seedlings to plant and the parents who came join their children.
“It’s a learning experience and they will only learn if we get them involved in the process.
“We told the children that when they grow up, whenever they will pass this area, they will always feel proud. They can point out and say that they took part in the planting of those mangroves.
“Teaching them about how they can look after the environment now in early childhood will prepare them to be responsible adults in the future.”
Bright Little Ones also has a mobile kindergarten in Kalabu and the children from there also joined the activity.
Edited by Caroline Ratucadra
