Students repurpose plastic waste through Ecobricks Project
At the Aga Khan Education Service, Tanzania, students and teachers successfully completed the “Ecobricks Project”, demonstrating how small actions can drive meaningful environmental change. This initiative is part of a larger effort to integrate sustainability into the curriculum while addressing the pressing issue of plastic waste.
The project tackled waste management by transforming non-recyclable plastics into ecobricks, which are plastic bottles tightly packed with dry waste such as wrappers and packaging. These bricks were used to build a sustainable seating area within the school, located at the Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School, Dar es Salaam. Open to all students, from nursery to secondary levels, the space promotes environmental awareness and fosters interaction across the school community.
Beyond creating the seating area, the project’s primary goal was to engage students in sustainable practices, demonstrating how circular solutions can reduce environmental impact. Through hands-on participation, students not only helped divert plastic from landfills and oceans but also experienced the value of collaborative, eco-friendly initiatives.
Ecobricks offer a practical response to the plastic waste crisis by converting discarded materials into durable building blocks, reducing pollution while contributing to a more sustainable future.
"From cradle to cradle, every plastic bottle has the potential for a second life – whether refilled, repurposed or transformed into ecobricks,” said Mr Hardeep Singh, the project’s key initiator and the school’s economics and business management teacher. “Sustainability begins with the choices we make today.”
The initiative originated from discussions between CEO Dr Shelina Walli and teachers on the importance of education and awareness of plastic pollution. “We explored the avenues where sustainability in action could be infused in the learning outcome of the curriculum,” Mr Singh explained.
The idea of the ecobricks was introduced to the students and then integrated with economics and business management topics of common pool resources and circular business models. The project quickly evolved into a school-wide initiative involving teachers, students and the maintenance team, showing the impact of collective action. Students across all three campuses, from the Aga Khan Nursery and Primary School, Dar es Salaam and the Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School Dar es Salaam, actively participated by collecting plastic bottles, medicine wrappers and single-use plastics to fill the ecobricks. After three months of hard work and dedication, the students constructed the parapet seating area using the ecobricks and support from the school community – a powerful symbol of hope and environmental responsibility.
"Together, we built a wall not just of bottles, but of hope,” said Emmy Tirane, a Diploma Programme 2 student and Student Council representative. ‘’It is a reminder that every small effort contributes to a sustainable future.”
The Ecobricks Project also offered experiential learning opportunities, connecting practical sustainability initiatives with academic content. Diploma Programme 1 students documented the journey through captivating visuals and a video, highlighting the creativity nurtured within the school. The involvement of art teachers and the ongoing guidance of Head of School Dr Arun Mukherjee were instrumental in driving the project forward.
Although the Ecobricks Project is now complete, the school’s commitment to sustainability continues as another construction containing ecobricks will soon be deployed elsewhere on campus. This project is a shining example of the school’s dedication to promoting environmental awareness and fostering sustainable practices. It highlights the potential of education, when combined with community action, to transform waste into opportunity and inspire a brighter, more sustainable future.
Photos (top to bottom):
- Students worked together to lay the ecobricks and cement blocks down to create the parapet seating area.
- From the nursery to the secondary sections of the schools, all students contributed to the Ecobricks Project.
- Students were involved in all stages of the Ecobricks Project, from creating the ecobricks to generating the cement blocks to building the final parapet seating area.
- The final constructed parapet seating area, which will be followed by the construction of another initiative containing ecobricks.
