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Macarena Guajardo Mavroski - Chilean, Latin America and the Caribbean

2019 Ganador(a) | Environmentalist | Chilean

In nature there is no such thing as something which has no value. That's why garbage in nature does not exist – it is a human invention and it is up to us to stop generating it, while improving our quality of life. Today our lifestyle of consumerism is making us stressed and sick – and pushing us into ecological overdraft. By incorporating a series of simple strategies in everyday life, a person can generate between 50 percent and 90 percent less rubbish. With these strategies, I started the Trash Foundation. My life has changed from taking an hour each day in getting ready for my day, to taking only 15 minutes. I went from taking 40 minutes to work to 10 minutes by using my bicycle, which helps me keep in shape and avoid getting sick. By using conscious decision-making about our lifestyle choices, we can all be part of the change. We are a community, and our partners contribute to the organization with a monthly payment. We send our community information and tips so they can start their own transition at home. We have already implement 14 socio-environmental training courses to empower young people from all regions of Chile, and published two books in English and Spanish that have been around the world.

When I was small, there was no shopping mall in my town or money to spend on Christmas gifts. My mother always motivated me to create my own gifts, for which I walked the streets in search of opportunities sheltered in discarded things. During my architect training I discovered that imagination is something powerful, and I believe that through this, contaminated places can be transformed. I created the Trash Foundation.

Descargo de responsabilidad: NOTA: Este contenido fue compartido en línea para el ciclo 2019 del programa Jóvenes Campeones de la Tierra y no ha sido actualizado. Este listado no constituye una aprobación ni vinculación alguna por parte del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente..

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