Tú mismo debes ser el cambio que tu quisieras ver en el mundo. –Ghandi

You, too, should be the change you would like to see in the world. Ghandi’s words of wisdom were our focus as the seventh grade class I was working with discussed ideas for their class project. 

Identifying the problem

The question was posed- “Is trash a problem at our school?” We started by doing a five minute trash hunt, in teams, which resulted in five full bags of garbage collected on the school grounds. Using a graphic organizer, and sharing ideas, the class got to work identifying a project that they would work on together.

Brainstorming ideas and creating a plan

The seventh-graders decided to furnish their school with trash cans. Since the school did not have garbage cans, students were not accustomed to using them, just tossing trash on the ground. So, the seventh graders decided that they would also create presentations and demonstrations to teach the other students in the school about trash awareness, and why it was so important to make sure that garbage was disposed of properly.

The class held a fundraiser, selling medicinal plants to people in the community. The event raised 100.000 guaranies. The students found families who were willing to donate buckets that would serve as trash cans that could be distributed to different areas of the school. The seventh graders decided to use the funds they raised to buy paint to decorate the buckets, and markers and paper to make posters as teaching visuals for their presentations.

Taking action!

Yesterday, when I checked in with the seventh grade teacher, she was excited to tell me about the trash management lessons she was teaching, using a manual I had shared with her the previous year. The trash “buckets”, collected by the students,  were being artistically painted with bright colors. She said that the students were also working on their presentations and looking forward to sharing this information with the other classes. 

It occurred to me in that moment- I was no longer a part of this project we had started together… Though a little bittersweet, this idea of small sustainable change is what we hope for as Peace Corps volunteers.

This super motivated teacher and hard-working class were on a roll- moving toward the change they wished to see in their school- a trash free space.