Environment Awareness & Education

Picker Pals Primary School Programme launched in dlr

General News

Primary school children in Ireland are taking a stand against litter in their area, through a unique school-based litter-picking programme called Picker Pals. The programme, run by environmental NGO VOICE (Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment) motivates and equips children with “Picker Packs” containing everything children need to go litter picking.

Using upcycled and fully reusable packaging, Picker Pals provide each classroom with bespoke story and activity books, in both Irish and English, and litter pickers which are taken home by a different child every week. Each child goes on a litter-picking adventure in their local area with their family and reports back to their classmates on their activity.  The Picker Pals song helps spread the message about tackling litter in a fun and upbeat manner to motivate children to get involved in this important social and environmental issue.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council piloted Picker Pals in 2020 and are delighted to be expanding the programme with primary schools across the county this year. An Cathaoirleach Cllr. Lettie Mc Carthy states;


“The dedication and passion young people have in dlr should inspire us all to take pride in looking after our local area and environment. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are delighted to be launching the Picker Pals programme throughout primary schools in the county. The programme shows how we can raise awareness and education surrounding the impacts of litter through a fun, interactive and rewarding way”

St. Brigid’s Boys National School Foxrock who piloted Picker Pals in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in 2020 are delighted to launch the programme this year. St. Brigid’s Boys National School actively promote environmental education and action through a variety of campaigns. In the last academic year, the school committed to reducing waste produced in their school with a particular focus on lunchbox waste, office supplies and upcycling materials where possible. Fiona Griffin, Principal of St. Brigid’s Boys National School said;

“We are delighted to be involved in the launch of the Picker Pals programme in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. The pupils, staff and members of our Green Schools committee have put in an outstanding amount of dedication and effort to reduce litter and waste in our school and local area. The Picker Pals programme highlighted how we can all work together to look after our environment through fun, vibrant and inclusive programmes."

St. Brigid’s Boys National School’s work on reducing litter and waste, exploring different methods of upcycling and reusing, running fun environmental campaigns and keeping their community clean is a leading example of how we can all work together to protect our environment.

For more information on Picker Pals, please visit https://pickerpalsworld.org/ 

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