Collecting waste and raising public awareness about coastal protection: the project of six students in Palavas-les-Flots

The six Montpellier students will meet in Palavas-les-Flots on Sunday March 3. -DR

On January 21, young Montpellier residents organized their first decontamination on the right bank of Palavas. -DR

Students from IUT Montpellier-Sète have created a branch of the Wings of the Ocean association. -DR

As part of their study project, these six students from IUT Montpellier-Sète (marketing techniques), created a local branch of the Wings of the Ocean association, which works to clean up coastal areas. On March 3, in Palavas-les-Flots, they are organizing a decontamination operation and a solidarity walking race. 

550 cigarette butts and 45 kg of other waste collected: the clean-up organized on January 21 in Palavas-les-Flots by six Montpellier students was successful. With a group of Drac volunteers, they carried out their first operation as part of their study project on coastal protection. On March 3, these students from IUT Montpellier-Sète (marketing techniques) will do it again. This time, on the left bank of the seaside resort, with a beach clean-up in the morning, and a solidarity run in the afternoon (read box). Objectives: carry out an ecological action and raise public awareness. "We want to attract as many people as possible, as well as sponsors for our initiatives." 

A local branch of Wings of the ocean

Protecting the environment is the field of action that Bérénice, Lily, Carla, Alexane have chosen, Mathis and Raphaël, for their study project in entrepreneurship and communication. Aged 19 to 20, they created a local branch of the Wings of the Ocean association (*), which works to clean up the beaches along the Berre pond, but also in Mediterranean and on the Atlantic coast. "The association gave us autonomy to create this branch. We chose a project around ecology because it's ;is a theme that brings us all together within our group. In addition, it seemed interesting to us in a city like Montpellier, sensitive to ecology and close to the sea", they explain. "During our first action in Palavas, we also saw that it's a subject that interests people." 

Pass the baton to the next promotion of their IUT

This trial attempt allowed the students and the volunteers who accompanied them to get the measure of the task. "We walked the beach and the pier. There is a lot of trash invisible at first glance, sometimes buried in the sand, including a lot of plastic, ropes and even eyeglass frames."

By dividing up roles (communication, partnerships, logistics), young Montpellier residents are currently finalizing their next event on Sunday March 3. Their goal: to continue this program by passing the baton to the next IUT promotion, "or even outside the IUT&quot ;, they hope.

(*) On Instagram: wingoftheocean_montpellier

Mail: antenne-montpellier@wingsoftheocean.com

Decontamination and running race in Palavas on March 3

On Sunday March 3, the six students from IUT Montpellier-Sète are organizing a two-part day. In the morning, from 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m., waste collection on the beaches of Palavas-les-Flots. Bags, gloves and caps will be provided. available to participants. Then, from 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m., on the left bank, a race à solidarity foot from the hotel Le Brasilia. Two distances are proposed: 3 and 6 km. Food and beverage stands will be available on site. "Participation à depollution is free. For racing &agrav; foot, participation costs 5 € for people who participated &agrav; depollution in the morning, and 10 € for those who did not participate, indicate the organizers.