CIYZOE is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that is mainly involved in plastic recycling promotion through student volunteerism. CIYZOE was set up by two female students,Sophia Kwashie and Emmanuelle Afaribea Dankwa of the University of Ghana, Legon,in September, 2015. Its vision is to realize clean communities devoid of indiscriminate littering with plastic waste”. CIYZOE-Legon currently has a membership of about twenty-five (25) student volunteers all of the University of Ghana and currently operates in the Dr. Hilla Limann Hall by room-to-room education on theplastic waste recycling. The team is currently headed by five executives and two patrons, Dr. Dzidzor-YirenyaTawiah and Dr. Ted Annan, both senior researchers at the Institute of Environmental and Sanitation Studies (IESS),University of Ghana, Legon
Twenty (20) plastic waste bins were donated to CIYZOE by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and were outdoored at a short ceremony which took place on Friday, 3rd March, 2017 at the Dr. Hilla Limann Hall Tutorial Office. The sole purpose of the bins is to serve as a collection point for pre-separated plastic waste(pure water sachets and plastic bottles only) in rooms and offices in the hall.
To grace the occasion were the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Professor Francis Nunoo, the Senior Hall Tutor of Dr. Hilla Limann Hall,Dr. Augustina E. Dzregah and the administrator of the hall Mr. KwakuHiamey.
In a brief speech delivered by the team head of CIYZOE-Legon, Ms. Emmanuelle Afaribea Dankwa, she talked about the successes chalked by the team so far and notable amongst them was the education of majority of residents in Dr. Hilla Limann Hall on source separation of plastic waste for recycling and its benefits. She also briefed the gathering on some challenges faced by the team including the lack of cooperation on the side of some students and the difficulty in acquiring sponsorship to purchase bins and other materials to aid in its activities.According to her, CIYZOE-Legon has plans to extend activities to other halls in the diaspora and departments on the main campus.
Professor F.K.E Nunoo (Dean of Student Affairs), the special guest of honour, lamented on the increasing amounts of plastic waste in the coastal areas and expressed his commitment to the campaign for plastic waste recycling. Prof. Nunoo announced his availability as a resource person and advisor to CIYZOE-Legon and advised the group to intensify their activities on campus. He also called upon members of the hall present to fully participate and spread the news.
The Chairperson for the ceremony, Dr. AugustinaE. Dzregah also expressed her concern about the waste in our water bodies which are harmful to acquatic animals. She communicated her willingness to support CIYZOE-Legon and its vision in any way possible.
Also in attendance were some volunteers of CIYZOE-Legon, some JCR executives of Dr. Hilla Limann Hall and a number of residents of the hall.
