From Garbage Island to Sweden, taking action for the planet

Hi, I'm Berenice Lizárraga, co-founder of Rescate de Isla Basura, a grassroots project fighting ocean plastic pollution in Mazatlán, Mexico. We’re working to restore a mangrove island overwhelmed by trash transforming it into a space for community, conservation, and education.

I’m also a master’s student focused on zero-waste solutions. My research? Installing the first biodigester in a craft brewery in Mexico to turn brewing waste into clean energy. Yep, beer into biogas!

This summer, I’ve been given an incredible opportunity to travel to Sweden to Linköping University and the Swedish Environmental Research Institute in Stockholm. There, I’ll meet with experts in waste transformation, deepen my research, and bring new tools back home to power real change in my city.

I’m beyond excited but also honestly stressed. I’m a full-time student and activist, and while the program is academic, I need support to cover my flights to Sweden. Between airfare, housing, and meals… it’s a lot. Europe’s expensive and I can’t do this alone.

If you believe in grassroots environmental action, if you’ve ever dreamed of a cleaner ocean, or if you just want to see someone from the Global South shaking things up please consider donating.

Every little bit helps get me one step closer to Sweden, and to making Mazatlán a model for circular, regenerative living.