Project Launch:

Lunahuaná is an agricultural community with a thriving tourist industry centered on the natural beauty of the area’s lush valley and its artisanal fruit products. However, the majority of the people in Lunahuaná lacked basic environmental knowledge that could greatly benefit both the agriculture and tourism industries. With support from World Connect, the community launched a grassroots environmental campaign with the support of the youth of Lunahuaná. The kids played an integral role in the dissemination of environmental knowledge and served to set an example for the entire community. The project started with informational sessions in the high school, incorporating lectures, activities, games, and participatory demonstrations of proper waste management, recycling and worm composting. It followed with the construction of a worm-composting bin, garbage cans and recycling bins at both the university and high school campuses. The Youth Environmental Campaign was successful in utilizing the community’s youth to influence the behavior of the community’s adults towards better trash management.