Esther's Journey in Spreading Awareness and Reducing Waste

The Climate Leaders Fellowship program teaches students about climate change and environmental sustainability, and guides them in designing and launching an impact project in their own communities.

The online program is offered in a collaboration between the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Rustic Pathways Foundation.

Esther participated in the fall 2022 fellowship cycle, and came back as a participant and student facilitator for the spring 2023 cycle! Read all about her experience below.

Tell us about yourself! 

I am Esther and I am a high school student currently studying in the Philippines. I love reading books, meeting people, and watching movies!

What specific problem were you addressing in your community? 

The specific problem I addressed in my community was the issue of excessive waste generation and its negative impact on the environment. I aimed to raise awareness about the various types of waste produced by individuals and their detrimental consequences on our ecosystems, landfills, and overall sustainability. By highlighting this problem, I sought to encourage individuals to take proactive steps toward waste reduction and adopt more sustainable practices in their daily lives.

What did you do for your project?

For my project I made informational posters about the different types of waste people produce and how we can reduce the waste. Because the main objective of the Spring 2023 Fellowship Project revolved around developing an educational campaign to redirect waste away from landfills.

How did you do it?

Initially, I conducted thorough research on various categories of waste, engaging in exploration to enhance my understanding of their distinct characteristics. Subsequently, leveraging my acquired knowledge, I curated educational posters highlighting these diverse waste types, disseminating them strategically across my social media platforms and personal group chats comprising individuals within my network.

Where did you do it?

I implemented my project exclusively through online platforms, utilizing various social media channels to disseminate educational posters and engage with the audience. These platforms included Twitter, Instagram, and online group chats. I aimed to maximize the project’s reach and engage with a diverse range of individuals beyond my immediate community, spreading awareness about waste reduction practices.

Which groups of people did you try to get to engage with your project?

For my project, my initial target audience consisted of people I knew, including my friends and family, as well as people in my school and local communities. Later on, I wanted to reach a broader audience, so I posted my posters on Twitter. This allowed me to get people with a broader range of interests and demographics, such as students, activists, or individuals who are interested in saving the earth!

Why did you do it?

When I first undertook this project during the Autumn 2022 cycle, I found it to be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. The positive feedback I received and the impact it had motivated me to continue my efforts. As a result, I decided to embark on the project once again, this time for the Spring 2023 cycle. The joy and satisfaction I derived from making a difference in my community inspired me to further dedicate myself to the cause of environmental sustainability.

What were the results? 

Through my project, I saw a notable increase in awareness about waste reduction among my friends. Many people reached out to me to express how the posters had helped them gain more knowledge about waste reduction, which was very encouraging. I received a lot of positive feedback from those who engaged with the project, with several people commending me for doing a great job. Overall, it was satisfying to see that the project had a positive impact on those who engaged with it and that it achieved its goal of spreading awareness about waste reduction.

Did you work with any partner organizations?

For this particular project, I did not collaborate or work directly with any partner organizations. It was primarily an individual initiative aimed at spreading awareness about waste reduction. However, I did reach out to people and ask them to share the information posters I had created, leveraging their networks and extending the reach of the campaign. While there were no formal partnerships, the engagement and support of individuals in sharing the message played a vital role in amplifying the project’s impact.

How did participating in the Climate Leaders Fellowship make you feel? 

Participating in the Climate Leaders Fellowship filled me with a sense of accomplishment and pride in my project outcomes. I felt gratified knowing that I could contribute, even in small ways, to the cause of spreading awareness and making a positive impact.

The fellowship provided a valuable platform for developing my leadership skills and expanding my knowledge of environmental justice and community engagement in climate action. As a student facilitator, I embraced the opportunity to challenge myself and enhance my public speaking abilities.

Overall, the fellowship was a rewarding experience that empowered me as a leader and reinforced my dedication to addressing climate change.

I want to highlight that this project played a small role in our ongoing efforts to create a more environmentally conscious community. While its main focus was to raise awareness about waste reduction and promote sustainable practices, I recognize that there’s much more work to be done. It’s important to remember that even our actions, when combined, can make a meaningful impact.

By sharing knowledge and encouraging others to take proactive steps, we can contribute to a culture of environmental responsibility and inspire further change. Together, we have the potential to make a difference in reducing the effects of waste on our planet and building a sustainable future for generations to come.