ALMOST 700 children from six primary schools in the Corporate Area and Clarendon received an immersion into environmentally friendly practices with methods to cut down and eliminate waste, in the fun-filled setting of the J Wray & Nephew Foundation (JWNF) ‘Sustainable Christmas Treat’ at Devon House recently.

As a mark of encouragement for sustainable behaviour, five plants were presented to each institution and each student received seeds to take home, to underscore the importance of trees and plants and protecting and preserving the environment.

There was the usual fun element, such as bounce-about, ferris wheel, mechanical bull, rock climbing, and other rides around the cordoned greenery, which was designed with message boards to impart sustainable environmental practices to the children.

Reinforcing those messages were activities in art and face painting, and even the way in which containers for disposables were labelled, encouraged recycling.

Environmental practice would reap big rewards for children who reached deep inside their thinking caps to share five different ways to use an empty plastic water bottle, as Zoeya Scott of Balmagie Primary and Romaine McLean of Race Course Primary each won a new bicycle at the culmination of activities.

This was added to a package that included a recyclable shopping bag and plant seeds, which had already been shelled out by each of the children, who went wild over the gift-bearing Santa, clad in the traditional red and white Yuletide garb.

The treat, which has witnessed a vast swelling from the school communities surrounding JWN’s Spanish Town Road, New Yarmouth and Appleton Estate properties within the past five years, is in keeping with the foundation’s commitment to support communities through purposeful interventions, providing exposure and varied experiences for the nation’s youth, and increasing the role of its staff volunteers in giving back to communities in the areas that it operates.

“This year, the J Wray and Nephew Foundation decided to put a new spin on our Christmas treat by hosting an event focused on promoting sustainability. For the past three years we have focused on positive messages and affirmations under the heading ‘Fun-spiration’. This year, we chose to focus on ‘A Sustainable Christmas’ as part of our mandate to educate our children on being good citizens by imparting solid environmental practices in an interactive and engaging manner that encourages forward thinking,” said Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence, chairman of the JWN Foundation, as he also thanked the sponsors who supported this year’s treat.

“Partnerships are important to the work we do. This year, we have also increased our partnership with stakeholders to deliver our programmes across the three parishes in which we operate,” said Lawrence.

“We are pleased to have Sunshine Snacks, Pure Country and Wisynco on board for our Christmas treat. We want to thank them for helping us to ensure that the children stay hydrated and nourished and have a wonderful day,” added Lawrence.