Page 9 - Summer 2024 - Two- English

Joe Wilkins

Community Engagement Officer at West
Wales Rivers Trust.

Previous school: Ysgol Gynradd Llanilar

What is your fondest memory
during your time on the Eco-
Committee?

I have so many fond memories of my
time on the Eco-Committee in Ysgol
Llanilar that it’s hard to pick just one!
We were lucky to do many activities like What would be your advice for
gardening, nature walks, and organising any young person thinking about
an animal fancy dress to raise money for joining an Eco-Committee today?
conservation.
To absolutely go for it! Using our voices
I think the day we were awarded the is so important, and each of us can make
Platinum award is probably my fondest a difference. But the difference we can
memory. I was in Year 6 then, so we were make working together is enormous!
the “leaders” of the Eco-Committee. We
had worked really hard all year on our Sometimes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed
with the size of the problems we face. It
environmental efforts and campaigns.
can also sometimes feel very lonely – that
Everyone was a bit nervous but also very you’re the only person trying, but nothing
excited on the day of the assessment. seems to change, no matter how much
So, a hundred kids started screaming you try. We’ve all been there, trust me!
and cheering when they announced that Finding a supportive community is so
the school had been awarded Platinum essential and Eco-Committees are great
status (one of the first to achieve that for this!
goal).

It was like the sound of Welsh rugby fans
after a win at the Principality (fingers
crossed we hear that noise again!). That
sense of achievement still sticks with me
14 years later!