Local kids in clean sweep of their estate

Junior wardens from New Buildings PS taking part in a clean-up in their local area.

The initiative was carried out as part of the Housing Executive’s Junior Warden project.

The kids managed to fill several black bags with litter that had been discarded around the streets, green areas and the play park neighbouring their school.

The Junior Warden Project is co-ordinated by the Housing Executive’s Social Education Officer and co-funded by the Derry & Strabane Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

Junior wardens with the community wardens from Derry City and Strabane District Council.

The Council’s Community Safety wardens joined the children on the day to help out.

There are over 550 school children in Derry taking part in this year’s Junior Warden Project.

The project is running in eleven local schools. These are: Ebrington PS, Greenhaw PS, Holy Family PS, Model PS, Newbuildings PS, Oakgrove IPS, Sacred Heart PS, St Anne’s PS, St Paul’s PS, St Patrick’s PS and Steelstown PS.

In addition to the clean-up, the kids are taking part in anti-social behaviour talks, a poster competition, environmental activities, civic pride tours,and a photography project that will culminate with an exhibition in the Playhouse at the end of the school year.

The Housing Executive’s Social Education officer, Patrick Duddy, said:

“Community clean-ups are a great way to get the kids involved in taking care of their own community. It also allows them a chance to see how even small pieces of litter can gather and impact how an area looks and feels.”