‘SMS Mission Recycling’ Looks to Raise the Bar, Widen Appeal for Communities

The second edition of the Support My School programme, called ‘SMS Mission Recycling,’ has now been launched with a bigger and bolder target, aligning it with the government’s cleanliness mission. The first school under SMS Mission Recycling saw the launch of the programme at the school at a primary school at Danyalpur, Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh recently.

Coca-Cola is looking to focus on water, agriculture and recycling for the next edition as it looks to reach out to schools to drive its mission. It is seeking to build a model of working which allows it to be replicated across more SMS locations.

Over 6000 school children and 30,000 community members are planned to be sensitised on the issues relating to recycling and PET waste management. The programme will also be looking to set up or facilitate waste management systems in communities as well as schools. Such an effort will have specific focus on PET waste.

The programme will now be aligned to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya (Clean India Clean Schools) Mission, enhancing the effort of the government.

Coca-Cola has been widely acclaimed for success in helping revitalise nearly 1000 schools across 29 states and union territories across India over the last seven years. During the first edition, programme focused on improving the facilities in schools, including libraries, toilets and other basic facilities.

SMS Mission Recycling will also seek to establish linkages among various government institutions, municipal corporations and panchayats to enhance the impact of government programmes.

The first edition of Support My School was a huge success with 300,000 children being direct beneficiaries of the Coca-Cola led programme. 7000 toilets and urinals and over 800 wash stations were revitalised. Over 400 playgrounds were also established for children across the country.

Says Shubha Shekhar, Director – CSR & Sustainability, Coca-Cola India & South West Asia:

“Coca-Cola embarked on this journey of Support My School with a purpose of revitalising basic sanitation infrastructure to help reduce drop out of girls from schools.  We have been able to make a positive impact, create a platform for partnerships and develop a model that has been replicated in four neighbouring countries.”

Says Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director, Plan India, “Plan India has a long-standing partnership with Coca-Cola India for Support My School (SMS). SMS Mission Recycling is an extension of the previous campaign. It aims to educate school children and communities through them on solid waste management and PET waste recycling, thereby making it a way of life. The earlier module of SMS focused on revitalising government schools across India with access to clean water, sanitation for boys and girls, awareness on good hygiene and clean green environment, thereby making learning environment conducive for school children. This initiative contributes to the achievement of the strategic goal of Plan India as defined in its Country Strategic Plan”

With over 7500 individuals and 100 corporates donating for the first edition of the programme, it set new benchmarks in community work, winning over 50 community awards and another 15 national awards.

Going places, winning hearts!

Such has been the impact of the programme that it has now been expanded to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Learn more about SMS Mission Recycling by viewing this infographic