Trash for Peace

Engaging Children, Youth and Community for a World without Waste

Abstract

Insufficient waste management is an issue in many parts of the world. Often trash is either burned outside of one’s home or thrown on the ground, left to potentially cause serious problems such as soil contamination and flooding. The author witnessed some of these negative effects during her Peace Corps service in Granados, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. One of the ways she addressed this issue in her community was by facilitating the community project of building two classrooms out of plastic bottles and trash, involving children and youth from start to finish. Inspired and empowered by this project, upon returning to the United States in 2010, she founded Trash for Peace, a not-for-profit organization. It promotes the values of hands-on learning, teamwork (that includes children and youth), creativity and innovation. Incorporation of these values results in more successful and sustainable projects that lead to healthier communities.