IMPACT OF BEACH CLEANUPS ON ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: A CASE STUDY IN BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51473/rcmos.v1i1.2024.559Keywords:
Environmental awareness, Beach cleaning, Marine pollution, Environmental education, Volunteer engagement.Abstract
This study investigated the environmental awareness of volunteers during beach cleaning activities in Estoril, Beira, Mozambique. The research involved 150 volunteers, of whom 42 were interviewed. Structured questionnaires were administered after the activities to assess knowledge about marine pollution. Additionally, participant observations were conducted to record volunteer involvement and the efficiency of the cleaning activities. Quantitative analysis of the questionnaire data revealed a significant increase in environmental awareness among volunteers after participating in the activities. Qualitative analysis identified factors influencing volunteer engagement, highlighting the importance of environmental education and awareness campaigns. The main limitations of the study included the sample size and the limited observation period. The study followed strict ethical principles, ensuring informed consent from participants and confidentiality of collected data. This work contributes to the understanding of the effects of beach cleaning activities on environmental civic awareness and underscores the need for ongoing environmental education programs to promote marine conservation.
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