Clean, recycle and... Let's swim!

A sunny day to enjoy the beauty of the lake Atitlàn, while cleaning trash and learn how important is to take care of nature and recycling. Sometimes playing and learning are the same thing!

Franklin, our much estimated long time volunteer from Guatemala, took the initiative for our Saturday activity and presented an interesting, exciting program for our kids of all ages. After a bumpy ride in our pickup and a short walk in the selva that winds trough the "cafetales" and giant plants on the finca road of San Pedro La Laguna, we reached a laid back small beach. The kids gathered around Franklin, who explained in simple, understandable words why environmental conciessness is so important today.

Did you know why we separate different trash, and why recycle?
What can we do to reuse rubbish and which are the things we need to throw away?

We brought a trash bag and a pair of gloves for everyone. The kids started looking immediately for traces of rubbish, under a shining morning sun.

How many years does it take for a plastic bottle or bag to decompose?
It’ almost unbelievable how long and difficult it is for the Earth to eliminate traces of garbage.

Here  a little list of decomposing timing for different type of trash:

A plastic bag - 500 years
A glass bottle - 100 years
A pair of tights - 70 years
An aluminum can - 50 years
A polystyrene container - 50 years
Chewing-gum  - 30 years
A cigarette filter - 10 years
A paper towel - 3 months
A newspaper - 1 month
A banana peel  - 1 month

“Lake Atitlàn is like a human being, an old and beautiful abuelito living here for many centuries. We need to take care of it, preserve it, make it possible that one day our children will be able to enjoy it too”, says Pablo, one of the youngest participants, while collecting fragments of plastics, glass and paper.

Loads of  work for children, who gave their best and made all their efforts to clean the shores of the lake.

And after the hard work, a well deserved break - everyone jumped into the water!

Nature is everything, we learnt today, and we are part of it, like a unique, giant, perfect human being.
Thank you, children of lake Atitlan! Building awareness is the first step towards a better future!