Reported by Achiraya PONRAKARN, Satarat PANKLIAO, Suchanan PRENGKHUNTOD, and Seattawut WATTANANONT (AJYELN Thailand Fellows)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Participants became aware of the harmful effects of plastic waste on the marine environment through a presentation conducted by the AJYELN fellows. The presentation highlighted the negative impacts of plastic waste and proposed solutions to address the issue, leaving participants more informed.
- Participants learned about the benefits of biodegradable packaging as an alternative to reduce plastic use. They practiced designing paper bags and used bagasse paper to create various works, allowing them to unleash their imagination and exchange knowledge with their peers.
INTRODUCTION
The Workshop on Paper from Sugarcane Bagasse, aimed at raising awareness about plastic waste pollution and promoting the use of bioproducts. It was held on October 18th, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Rama IX Park in Bangkok, with support from Wachirathamsathit School and Rama IX Park. The event was attended by five participants, including students and children from the general public. Due to adverse weather conditions and heavy rain, other registered participants were unable to attend as scheduled.
Workshop: DIY paper from bagasse at Rama IX Park.
Another session was conducted on November 11th, from 1:10 to 2:30 PM, attended by 30 students from Wachirathamsatit School, representing various grade levels. These participants were selected through a limited-time registration process.
The objective of the activity was to raise awareness of the impact of plastic pollution, particularly on the oceans, and to present solutions to address the issue. These included fostering a sense of responsibility, encouraging behavioral changes to reduce plastic waste, and promoting serious advocacy on plastic pollution issues.
Participants were able to design, draw, fold paper, and create works based on their imagination. After that, they were given drinking water and took group photos.
From the STEM lab of Wachirathamsatit School, 30 students from lower and upper secondary schools participated in the activity. The activity started with an introduction to the project, where the advisory teacher and the organizing team provided information about the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean, which is a chronic problem that affects the ecosystem and marine life. They also presented new alternatives to reduce plastic use by using paper from bagasse, a natural material that is easily biodegradable.
During the activity, participants shared their opinions on how to reduce plastic waste and making their own handicrafts, drawing, folding paper, and creating works based on their imagination. There were fun activities with a chance to win 3 special prizes (Bluetooth headphones, insulated cups, and blankets).
Participants were encouraged to take pictures of the atmosphere or their work and post them on their Instagram stories to further promote the activity online. The event concluded with a group photo and snacks.
Through the activities, we noted that:
- Participants were fully engaged in the activity and responded enthusiastically to questions about defining plastics and their impacts. They demonstrated a deep understanding and thoughtful consideration of the topics discussed.
- Participants expressed their own opinions on the issue and exchanged ideas with other participants.
- Participants were interested in the process of making sugarcane paper and suggested ways to develop the paper for various applications.
From the surveys administered to students before and after the project, we found that students’ responses differed between the pre- and post-project surveys. Students provided more informed answers, with a significant change in their understanding. In the pre-survey, when asked, “How much do you know about ways to reduce plastic?”, 58% of participants answered “a lot,” 6% answered “moderate,” and 35% answered “a little.” However, in the post-survey, over 85% of students answered “a lot,” 12% answered “moderate ” and only 3% answered “a little.” We were relieved to see that our project helped students gain a clearer understanding of plastic pollution. Below are the graphs showing the change in student responses in the pre- and post-surveys.
Comparison of students’ answers in the pre- and post-event survey:
