For many years the three of us dreamt of leaving a positive mark on this world. A mark that goes beyond our immediate surroundings and actively fights the systemic injustice and imbalance our society is built up on. A system that is tilted in our favor and ensured that, growing up, we did not have to worry about food, safety, shelter, education and, medical assistance. All things, which we have come to understand are pivotal to a person’s or a community’s success.
Inequality and economic injustices are also inherently linked to environmental issues. Angela Francis, Chief Advisor, Economics and Economic Development at WWF and member of UCL’s Green Innovation Policy Commission and IPPR’s Environmental Justice Commission, just recently discussed how delivering a green economy will “…improve our health and our well-being and our quality of life, how it will deliver better jobs, a better economy, more opportunities”. This perfectly describes what we aim to achieve with Plasticaware in Capurgana, Colombia. But let’s start from the beginning:
Having seen the devastating environmental and marine pollution and the stark economic differences between rural and urban areas in Colombia, we decided to focus our efforts on Capurgana – a small community where we can have an immediate and long-term impact both environmentally and economically. Plasticaware’s aim and mission were formed over the course of a couple of months in 2020. We bounced numerous ideas off of each other, challenged the concept countless times, had to rethink the project over and over again, and started anew. We had ups and downs. We had to overcome cultural misunderstandings, language barriers, and, yes, perhaps the most infamous challenge of the “2020 Zoom Era”: we also struggled to hit the unmute button before we started talking during our conference calls 😉 Finally, after months of preparation, Plasticaware was founded in November 2020 with an enormous amount of heart, passion, willpower, determination and of course effort and time.
Over the past year, we’ve experienced tremendous growth not only as an organization but also as individuals and as a group. As a result, our friendship is stronger than ever, and we want to take you along for the ride. This blog will share personal stories, project updates, environmental topics and much more. But first, we want to share our own personal thoughts and motives on why we each decided to be part of this wonderful venture that is Plasticaware.
Let’s start with Céline whose eagerness and determination were and are paramount to Plasticaware’s success.
Céline’s Story:
It has always been a dream of mine to start an aid project. Why? Because I want to help people on this earth who do not have the luck to be born into a privileged country or a supportive family. But let’s go back in time: even as a kid I was enormously interested in travelling the world, I wanted to see different people, cultures and ways of living. I always appreciated the fact that I had the opportunity to do so.
With this open mind of mine and a little critical thinking it was clear that I wanted to use my privileges for the better. At the age of 17, I organized a charity gala as part of my high school thesis which collected CHF 7,000 to support an organization in Kisumu Africa that built a Kindergarten for the local community. Seeing the happy faces of the kids and parents when they heard the news was a rewarding and enriching experience that I have never felt before. I knew then that I wanted to do something similar again. It was also during this time that I became close friend with Sharon. And as one says, the best friendships are formed in youth.
Due to my many part time jobs, I was able to travel to many different parts of the world. Travelling has opened my mind and has given me a new perspective on live. I have seen poverty, pollution, violence, hunger and injustice. Three years ago, I went to Colombia for a semester abroad and that is where I met Natalia.
Natys Story:
I grew up sheltered and protected in Medellin, Colombia. During my studies and throughout my first jobs I’ve developed an interest in women’s rights issues, women’s needs and poverty in Colombia. A couple of years ago I met a swiss student in one of my master classes. From the beginning I was amazed by her enthusiasm and strength to be completely alone in a new country without much knowledge of the language, the people or the cultural background. In the beginning communication was difficult since I was unable to speak English nor was she able to speak Spanish. Regardless, we were drawn to each other and got along without speaking. We found commonalities in our shared understanding of the world and later on discussing the inequality between the rich and the poor. Infected by Céline’s drive I decided to travel through Europe in 2018. Since then, I am even more aware of the world’s injustice and how fortunate I am to be born in a stable city. Spending a few days in Zurich I also met up with Sharon with whom I bonded right from the start despite the language barrier.
Sharon’s Story:
During my studies in psychology, I learned quickly that you can have a disadvantage in life based on the social and economic hand you were dealt with at birth. Factors such as socioeconomic status, possibility of education, or health have a direct impact on our growth and development. From an early age I started working and volunteering in areas that support children’s and juveniles’ growth process. I worked with kids in theater, arts, as well as education. But I was always striving to do more and have an impact beyond the Swiss borders. Seeing how Céline collected money for a good cause opened my eyes and gave me the motivation to do something alike. Since then, our friendship has grown further and further. We’ve not only become the best of friends but also travel buddies. During our trips we have always looked for something meaningful to do that represents our shared values.
