What Parents Say

LITTER-PICKING ADVENTURES

Children are excited to lead their families out and about as they make a real difference to their local neighbourhoods. They love being empowered to create a better place to live, play and grow up.

The Picker Pals project has had a huge impact on her. She’s just turned seven and her awareness of litter and rubbish has just increased massively.Another thing she’s done is that she’s put a stop to us buying plastic sandwich bags. Since doing the Picker Pals project we have reduced our waste in the family quite dramatically. I would love to see Picker Pals in every classroom in her school, nationally and beyond that. In particular, the older members of society were thrilled to witness young people being passionate litter pickers.

Sheelagh Massey

Mother of 1st Class Picker Pal, Sutton, County Dublin

My son has this new awareness about the environment in which he lives and taking responsibility for it. The idea of him littering himself is almost unthinkable because he realises the consequences that it can have. At the same time, one of the other real benefits that he’s shared with his brother is that there is a very direct impact that we can have in terms of doing something for your community. The picker pack makes it so easy. As a parent you don’t have to think about it at all. Once they get the pack, they’re the boss. They have the picker pack and they get to take their adult out!

Father of 2nd Class Picker Pal

County Dublin

He was so excited and he took his picker pack and they really enjoyed it. I could feel that they were really proud of themselves. We looked at the litter and even took a picture and when we went home we talked about what we had collected. We had a really nice day and I actually had to go and buy a picker-upper for the family.

Mother of 3rd Class Picker Pal

County Dublin

"This is an inspirational programme. So worthwhile. We feel very blessed that we were part of it. It awakened and empowered the children to know that we can all make a difference. The programme helped create a positive link and lines of communication between the teachers and the parents, as we worked towards a shared goal, with the children. 'Is féidir linn go léir, le chéile'. it offered a platform for the children to share their experiences with their peers, problem solve and imagine and re-imagine other ways to solve the current litter problem. The children would come in with a huge smile, positive body language each time they returned the pack and it was obvious they felt so good about their contributions. The programme supports so many elements of the curriculum and enriches our lives as active citizens. Go raibh maith agaibh- Picker Pals Team! I am looking forward to working with the Picker pals every year as a teacher, if possible to engage & inspire the children I facilitate in their learning to engage in environmental campaigns that they feel they can make a difference in as active citizens. I hope there are opportunities for participation for pupils who are in all classes in primary school. Go raibh maith agaibh. This year the Picker Pals programme also helped us feel more connected as Global Citizens and it was a great honour to meet pupils and teachers in China working on the same cause as we were. We felt very much a part of One World and One mission. Go raibh maith agaibh."

Michael O'Leary

Head of CSR Sponsorship, EBAY

“A simply awesome initiative that connects school to community with a joint sense of purpose. I think that over time this initiative will have a significant impact on attitudes in our local area. It has been one of the most meaningful messages I have helped to communicate in my teaching career.”

Aine Lawlor

Teacher, Burrow School, Sutton