Recently, our children went on a very exciting excursion to the zoo to visit a very special giraffe — the one they proudly adopted using money they raised through our Cash for Cans collection.

With the help of our wonderful families and community, the children collected bottles and cans that were donated to our service. This helped the children learn that recycling is a great way to care for our environment while also helping others. By keeping containers out of landfill, the children explored environmental sustainability in a meaningful, hands-on way.

The project also gave children the chance to learn about money. They counted the funds collected, talked about saving, and discovered how working together can help reach a shared goal. This supported their understanding of financial sustainability in a way that was practical and engaging.

One of the most exciting parts was choosing which animal to adopt. The children shared their ideas, listened to each other and then voted to make the final decision. This experience helped them explore democracy, showing them that everyone’s voice matters and that decisions can be made together fairly and respectfully.

Visiting the zoo and seeing “their” giraffe created a strong sense of pride and connection. It helped build social sustainability by encouraging teamwork, responsibility and a caring connection to the wider community.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated their containers — your kindness helped make this experience possible. Together, we showed the children how small actions can make a big difference and how working as a community helps support both people and the planet.