6th grade students at Colégio Castelo carry out a solidarity action by collecting bottle caps

In a gesture of solidarity and commitment to the environment, 6th grade students at INSG/Castelo – Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil delivered, this Tuesday (12 November 2024), donations of plastic bottle caps collected in the CINE Castelo Project, held during Expo Castelo in September this year.

The CINE Castelo Project, coordinated by teachers Mariúcha Correa (Writing) and Thaynara Brasil (Portuguese), provided students with a rich learning and creativity experience through the production of a short film. Throughout the process, students developed several skills such as planning, teamwork and problem-solving.

To make the launch of the short film even more meaningful, admission was charged in plastic bottle caps, encouraging the participation of the school community and raising awareness about the importance of recycling. The bottle caps collected were donated to the Tampinhas do Bem Project, which transforms this material into resources for the neutering of abandoned animals. This sustainable practice reinforces Colégio Castelo's commitment as a member of the Don Bosco Green Alliance.

At the award ceremony, the project leaders, Élida Alves, veterinary assistant, and Cida Ferreira, teacher and social worker, were present to thank the students and emphasize the importance of the initiative that contributes to the animal care network. They highlighted the direct effects of neutering in reducing animal suffering and the population of stray animals. “It is a great satisfaction to carry out these actions because we know how neutering helps prevent other forms of mistreatment, such as abandonment,” said Cida.

In addition to emphasizing the importance of caring for animals, Cida Ferreira explained how this care is also linked to people’s well-being. “We are not only helping animals and the environment, we are also helping people, because there is always a human being involved in this process.” She added: “We do not have a selective collection in Macaé, but we do have individual collectors, and this material can be placed separately so that they can earn an income.” In this way, the project representatives demonstrated to the students that small individual actions can generate a great positive impact on society.