Two Dominican students honored for environmental projects in their schools

A 14-year-old turned plastic bottles into a school roof, and a six-year-old is teaching kids to protect the ocean. The government has recognized both as Students of the Week.

The Government, through the Ministry of Education, named María Angélica Brioso Rodríguez and Ana Esther Paula Sánchez as Students of the Week for their projects on environmental protection, recycling and the conservation of marine ecosystems.

María Angélica, 14, is in the third year of secondary school at the Politécnico Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, in Educational District 10-01. With two classmates, she developed the project "Plásticos en desuso, techos en uso: ¡Reciclamos!" ("Plastics no longer in use, roofs in use: We recycle!"), which proposes reusing plastic bottles to build a roof at her school. The idea grew out of the buildup of bottles and the pollution they caused. The group also ran campaigns to get other students involved in caring for the school environment. The project won first place at the First National Congress on Environmental Education.

"Being selected as a 'Student of the Week' makes me very happy. It is an honor to be in this position. It is also important to remember that the school and the teachers are always there to support us, and that we must keep a clean, livable space," said María Angélica.

Ana Esther, six, attends primary school at the Centro Educativo Profesor Camila Henríquez, in Educational District 15-01. Her project "Los pequeños exploradores del océano" also won first place. The initiative encourages children to care for marine animals and understand why it matters to protect the ecosystems they live in, and promotes responsible habits to prevent ocean pollution.

"I learned to take care of the animals, and not to throw trash in the ocean because it gets polluted and makes us sick too. I felt very good when I was selected; I felt happy and motivated," said Ana Esther.

The Students of the Week initiative aims to recognize the talent, dedication and community commitment of students in the Dominican education system, not only for their academic performance but also for their leadership, creativity and innovation.