Down in Vargas’ coast, people are already familiar with recycling. Children, their teachers, fishermen and more have attended talks regarding the benefits of recycling. For many of the people living there, picking up discarded plastic, paper and glass is part of their daily routine.
Starting in 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named May 17 as the International Recycling Day, hoping to sow seeds of awareness regarding the importance of caring for our environment. Venezuela doesn’t have many programs that cover the subject, reason why the Atta program is so important.
Launched two years ago, the Atta program is dedicated to environmental protection via community work. The town of Chuspa became its launch site, later appearing in other Vargas communities such as Guayabal, El Trapiche, Todasana, Caruao and La Sabana, as part of the “Nuestras Playas” / “Our Beaches” initiative.
“The first thing we do is talk to the townsfolk, imparting talks open to everyone. We make them realize that collecting recycling materials is nothing but positive: it helps keeping the beaches clean, which attracts more tourists. It helps keeping the town clean, as well as diseases away. They may also gain money from the materials they recover,”
So said Alexander Useche, Yammine Foundation’s coordinator, which is in charge of the Atta program.
The educational aspect is key. Recycling has been encouraged in all schools in the area as part of the “Sowing Future” program. “Children receive points for each recycling material they deliver. Afterwards, they can exchange those points for school supplies. It is a way to encourage them while also educating them and giving value to their efforts,” said Useche.
The programs have spread all over: The five municipal Baruta schools, Caricuao’s San Agustín school, 2 children’s football clubs, hotels and businesses have joined recycling initiatives.
As part of said educational work, 525 children and teens have received recycling-themed school kits.
Another thing Atta does is provide the logistical support for the recollection of the material. Thanks to the community’s work, from the program’s very start, over 47.000Kg of recycling material has been received, of which 26.668Kg was glass, 3.774Kg was plastic, 2.656Kg was cardboard and 14.330Kg was assorted waste.
The program also supports the community by offering dental assistance to participants. “The townsfolk are always very thankful for this, since they come from poor communities that require all available support,” said the coordinator.
Alexander Useche said that they will continue encouraging recycling habits through the Atta program, and invites all interested parties to learn more about it in the Yammine Foundation website, or by writing an e-mail. The Yammine Foundation’s Youtube channel also contains material regarding the organization’s many different programs and today, on international recycling day, they have launched the @ProyectoAtta Instagram account, which is full of material of interest for those who care for the environment.
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