World Environment Day takes place every year on 5 June. Created by the United Nations, this is the day for “encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment.” The focus is on activists, making a difference locally in conjunction with national or global efforts.
InterNations Changemakers Groups support local environmental initiatives around the globe, and their members are no strangers to rolling up their sleeves to get a job done. Here we showcase three local initiatives to make a difference, in Dubai, Los Angeles, and Manila.
The Changemakers Group in Dubai meet regularly to clean up the beaches that have contributed to Dubai’s rise as a tourist — and expat — destination. In partnership with the local NGO ABCD, InterNations Group members help by picking up trash from the beach. As Consul Mary Perez explains, sometimes the results can be inspiring, yet shocking. “First time volunteers are shocked how many cigarette butts we collect in one to two hours … it’s really unbelievable!” Mary has been organizing activities for the Group since October, and during the first activity alone, volunteers collected 39,340 cigarette butts.
The regular activities have grown to such an extent that she now wears a printed T-shirt, so she can be recognized as the Consul among the growing number of volunteers. During the last activity, 15 InterNations volunteers picked up 24 kg of trash.
The Changemakers Group in Los Angeles organizes all sorts of activities, from helping to feed the homeless, to going grocery shopping with the elderly. Recently though, they have taken to the streets to plant trees. As Consul Cornelia Zeidler explains, “Los Angeles is a big city with more buildings than green landscape, so we decided to be part of making an environmental difference.” In partnership with City Plants, the City of LA Department of Recreation and Parks, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, and the USC Alumni Real Estate Action Network, InterNations members planted 32 trees on the streets of LA. In a city notorious for its pollution, the aim is to create shade in the hot streets. Cornelia said; “It is also really touching and inspiring that other global minds share that same vision and generously volunteer their time to make a difference in the lives of other less fortunate people.”
This year’s theme for World Environment Day was plastic pollution, and the Manila Changemakers have made this a key theme for their Group. Consul Nik Metaxa-Schwarten has organized trash pick-ups along the Marikina Riverbanks within the wider metropolis of Manila, as well as at Subic Bay, not far from the city. Now they are going one step further, exploring the option of building their own plastic recycling station using blue prints from Precious Plastic. This social business aims to equip communities with the tools to recycle plastic, by making products they are able to sell.
Conor Rushby is originally from Yorkshire, England, and since studying in London has led a nomadic lifestyle taking in Vienna, New Zealand, and Johannesburg. He is now settled in Munich.
Since Shingirai Tashayawedu joined the Johannesburg Changemakers as Consul, he has built a remarkable partnership with several local NGOs and encouraged many InterNations members to collect school materials and clothes for children. Here, Shingirai describes how he makes a difference in his city.
Since joining the Jakarta Changemakers, Astari Sutjiningtyas has built a remarkable partnership with a local NGO and encouraged other members to teach English to underprivileged children. Here, she describes her experience with the Changemakers and gives advice for anyone wishing to get involved.
More than two years ago, Nik started the Changemakers Group in Manila from scratch. The Manila Community is one of the biggest in South East Asia and thanks to Nik’s hard work and dedication, the Manila Changemakers Group has become one of the most active in Asia.
Amr Heikal has been a Changemakers Consul since February 2019. With his help, his group has partnered with a local NGO, Dar al Ber Society, to drill a fresh water well in Benin. In this interview, Amr offers advice to anyone wishing to get involved and tells us how he has brought about this project.
As we begin a new decade, we can look back on a momentous year for the InterNations Changemakers. New cities were welcomed into the fold and groups found new and exciting ways to get creative, addressing the issues of our time: the climate emergency, social inclusion, and the refugee crisis.