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Christmas wouldn't be the same without a Christmas tree and that tree wouldn't be the real thing without ornaments. And it is that niche market for ornaments that a teacher and her fourth form class at the Our Lady of Guadalupe RC High School in Belmopan are trying to tap into using creative recycling. Here's the story.

Keith Swift Reporting,
These Christmas ornaments are the handmade creations of fourth form students at the Our Lady of Guadalupe RC High School in Belmopan. Even more impressive is that they were all made out of what would be garbage to me and you. These were made from the bottom of Coke plastic bottles, these are from bottle covers, while this was a potted meat can and now an ornament. So too are these pan covers which have been recycled and are now ornaments.

Vanessa Garel, Fourth Form Student
"Basically we cut the bottom of the plastic, the plastic bottles, and we place white glue in them and put glitters and leave them to dry about ten to fifteen minutes and then we glue them together with glue gun and use ribbons and we decorate the outside and put ribbons and a little hook to put it on the Christmas tree."

Melva Guerra, Teacher - Our Lady of Guadalupe RC School
"The idea came from our cook, she had the idea of making decorations with it and she gave us the idea."

Vanessa Garel,
"It wasn't something that interested me at first but after my teacher showed me the sample I was willing."

Their teacher Melva Guerra says the goal is two fold: it is to raise funds and an added bonus is a lesson on recycling.

Melva Guerra,
"We are hoping to raise enough funds to help with the school because we need some money for different developments and so there are some painting that needs to be done, there is a basketball court that needs to be fixed and there is equipment for the science lab that we need to purchase.

Apart from being fundraising we believe that they will get into the 3Rs for the environment; reduce, recycle, and reuse. We are reducing the amount of pollution that we are putting out, the amount of garbage, and we are recycling the product that we have and reusing them in the decorations."

Keith Swift,
"Do you get a sense of satisfaction watching these ornaments that were handmade?"

Vanessa Garel,
"Yes I feel proud that I made it."

Salome Smith, Fourth Form Student
"Yeah that the bottles that you drink out of, we could use creatively for Christmas time to make decorations for your tree and then not having to go to a store to buy them but you can make them homemade."

The students say they plan to send a box of ornaments to Coca Cola's world headquarters in Atlanta Georgia. That is because they say they sent to a box of ornaments to Bowen and Bowen in Belize City but they didn't get a satisfactory response. But the ornaments are on sale and prices range from $2 to $3.50. The students are also making Christmas cards which will be available for sale. If you want to order you can call the high school at 822-0602.