Keeping trash out of our oceans!

About a year ago, I made this GoFund me page. I was in Iquitos Peru where I had discovered a river that was being heavily polluted with garbage and sewage. We worked very hard for 4 months with the money from the donations that came in and we were able to remove around 8000 bags of garbage from the Itaya river! We were able to do that because each one of you donated and the locals came to support with the man power. The money went towards buying all of the supplies such as bags, gloves, masks, tools, transportation and paying the people per bag that was collected. We also used it to build a shower house with five showers and two dry toilets. 

I worked closely with the Mayor and he bought two new trash trucks and 5 boats that collect trash! We have already made huge progress!

We took two weeks off from the project, when I returned to the states for a screening of the documentary of the project, and when I returned to Belén, the river was full of trash again...I have realized that the key to sustainability is education and incentive. 

During this phase of the project, we are creating an education program that will be taught in school, after school programs and to each person who wants to work with us. 

The types of topics we will teach about include:
recycling
water contamination
composting
water borne diseases
hands on experiences
renewable energy
emotional intelligence

Our goal is to keep cleaning and to teach them and the world, why we need to protect the water.  Once we have succeeded in Belén, we will be recreating this model all over the world. 

I am grateful to each person who has already made this project possible. It requires all of us to make it work. I am asking for your support to continue. Everyday, I see posts on social media about water pollution and I am someone who doesn't want to just see a video and feel sorry for the world and hope that someone will do something about it. I am someone who is not afraid to go out and get my hands dirty. To me, leadership is being an example for other to follow, not barking orders from above them. I believe with every ounce of my being that I am here to protect our water. I am here to be in service to the life of this planet and see that we elevate the consciousness of humanity. I believe that each person living in these heavily polluted areas does not wish to live this way, they are living this was because they do not have the means to live any other place financially or due to lack of education. I also believe that we cannot rely on the government to fix the problems of the world. I believe that the people are able to band together and heal ourselves and the world. 

I am asking for you to support this mission. I choose to be the vessel that carries it out and I need support to do so. Please watch the video above and visit the website to see what we have already accomplished. 

#togetherwecanchangetheworld

http://jakelyell.com/2007/07/16/water-borne-poverty-a-photo-essay-from-the-peruvian-amazon-basin/