Quaye Nungua R/C Basic wins FanMilk School Caravan, gets new ICT lab

Quaye Nungua R/C Basic School has been crowned overall winner of the 2025 FanMilk School Caravan, after emerging top among participating schools in a nationwide environmental competition aimed at promoting plastic waste collection and recycling among pupils.

The school, located in Nungua, secured the top spot by collecting 10,989 wrappers, earning it the ultimate prize and a refurbished ICT laboratory commissioned on its premises during a ceremony attended by education officials, local authorities and other stakeholders.

The initiative, organised by Fan Milk Plc, recognises schools that demonstrate excellence in environmental responsibility through waste collection and recycling efforts. The programme also promotes hygiene and responsible consumption among young learners.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of Fan Milk Plc, Lionel Parent, said the project was designed to instil lasting behavioural change among students.

“At FanMilk, we believe that a snack is only truly enjoyed when its wrapper is safely disposed of in a recycling bin,” he said. “We are proud of what these students have accomplished. This effort goes beyond simply collecting wrappers; it is about instilling lifelong habits. We at FanMilk are pleased to commission this ICT lab, which will support your learning, nurture your curiosity, and prepare you for the future. We hope it will provide you with the tools to explore, innovate, and solve the challenges around you.”

The FanMilk School Caravan, introduced in 2018, has grown into a major environmental education platform, reaching more than 500,000 students nationwide and collecting millions of plastic wrappers. In 2025 alone, the programme engaged over 1,000 schools across Greater Accra, Ashanti and Western regions, reaching more than 507,000 students and collecting over 11.2 million wrappers for recycling.

The collected waste is processed in partnership with MiniPlast Ghana Limited and converted into bin liners, contributing to efforts to promote a circular economy in plastic waste management.

A Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Stephen Kwaku Owusu, who spoke on behalf of the sector minister, described the initiative as a valuable contribution to national development.

“What we are witnessing goes beyond a school competition. These students are learning values that will shape their contributions to Ghana in the future. They are demonstrating that protecting the environment is a patriotic responsibility we must all take seriously. We commend their courage in taking action to protect our environment,” he said.

Four other schools were also recognised for their performance, each receiving infrastructure support as part of the programme’s legacy projects. Association Community Model Basic School in Accra placed second with 9,485 wrappers and was awarded a refurbished kindergarten playground, while Ashma Tsui-Bleoo No. 2 Basic School placed third with 8,905 wrappers and received a new ICT laboratory.

In the Ashanti Region, Maakro M/A Basic School was rewarded with an ICT lab after collecting 9,186 wrappers, while Windo Methodist School in the Western Region received a renovated kindergarten block.

The National Coordinator of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP), Mrs Oppong-Mensah, said the initiative had significant health benefits for schools.

“A clean environment is the first line of defence for healthy students,” she said. “By eradicating millions of wrappers from their campus, these students have reduced health risks and created a better learning environment. We hope this culture of cleanliness will remain with them for life.”

The headteacher of Quaye Nungua R/C Basic School, Georgina Ahiagba, welcomed the recognition and praised the students’ efforts.

“This acknowledgement means a great deal to us as a school. Our students have demonstrated commitment and teamwork throughout this program. We are proud of their accomplishments, and this ICT lab will significantly support their learning,” she said.

Organisers say the programme will continue to expand through collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and SHEP, with a focus on building a generation that values environmental responsibility alongside academic development.