The British Embassy in Guatemala is helping to promote a project created by a group of young Guatemalans (“Jovenes por Guatemala”) to raise awareness about the importance of recycling. The project is called “Recycling for my country”. The idea is for schools and universities to make a big push to recycle paper before the end of term in November. Funds collected from the recycling will then go to the initiative “A roof for my country”: a charity that builds houses for poor families in Guatemala. The hope is to build a good number of houses before Christmas.

During the press conference to announce the project, HMA Julie Chappell said: “Youngsters are the future of this country and critical to creating a cultural shift here that recognises the importance of recycling. Only by reducing what we need and what we waste can we hope to stop deforestation. Controlling waste is also critical for the development of eco-tourism – a business that could bring still so much more wealth to this country.” Ambassador Chappell also emphasised that the conservation of the environment does not rely only under responsibility of governments but every single actor in the society.

“Recycling for my country” is also supported by the French Embassy in Guatemala, the Municipality of Guatemala and Fundacion Castillo. For more information about how to donate material or be involved in this cause please visit http://jovenesporguatemala.org.

If you want to know more about the Embassy's activities and other related work, please visit the Ambassador's blog.

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