The "Recycle and Win" competition, announced by Milk-Agro for the 2018/2019 school year for the sixteenth time, is well known among many kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. The Uzovce Elementary School has been participating since the very beginning. This year they won fifth place in category E – Creation from SABI product packaging. We asked the school principal, Mgr. Zuzana Lukošiková, how they managed it.
Why did you choose this category?
Every year we participate in the Recycle and Win competition. Usually, we won in collecting tetrapaks and lids. I have been at the school for five years, and we once participated in the category of creations from SABI product packaging, but we did not win with our lighthouse. This year we wanted to win something again, but we did not have enough tetrapaks or lids. So we thought again about some creation. Since the World Ice Hockey Championship was on, we thought to make our own Macejko. The idea was there; we just had to figure out how to realize it.
How did it go?
Our creation is not as huge as others, but it should be added that all the children participated. First, they had to bring the lids, of course, then they willingly sorted and selected the necessary ones. According to instructions and needs, they then cut out tiny parts, all to have enough material for our Macejko. Then we thought about how to realize it. Since I am alone here, one mother helped me. The whole process took about a week.
Your creation attracted attention. Were you satisfied with it?
When we created it, I motivated the children that even if we don’t win, we will have our Macejko and will cheer for our hockey players. When we finished it, we said: Wow, how beautiful it is. It’s a pity to give it away (laugh). But we said it would only go for a short time; then we will keep our Macejko here as a memento of hockey.
The prize surely pleased you...
Of course, very much. I would also like to mention that the logo for this competition was also created at our school here in Uzovce. It was in the first year of the competition under the then principal Mrs. Holentová.
What motivates you to participate in the competition? The chance to win, helping the environment, or the taste of SABI products?
All of that. Children really like yogurts and milk. Our canteen has SABI dairy products at least once a week. We collect lids and tetrapaks all year round, whether we win or not. We also collected plastic cups, but we don’t have space to store them, so we stopped.
Who helps you with the collection?
The school has seventeen children; they couldn’t manage alone. Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts help. Also, acquaintances of the children’s parents. I must say the whole village participates in the collection, which is certainly nice. Mostly they bring them in larger packages, even three to four hundred pieces. We really like this project; it encourages children to sort waste, teaching them to help the environment.
How did you use the reward for placement?
Through the SABI project, we will buy some office supplies but mainly art supplies and notebooks, so parents are relieved from buying these supplies. It is a very practical project that helps the school, education, the environment, and promotes healthier nutrition.
Thank you for the interview.
