Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

On the way home from school, 13-year-old Ju-ar scours his neighborhood for papers, tins and plastics.  He helps his father collect scrap materials, which they sell to a junk shop.  The pair has been doing this for years, but Ju-ar never thought that they were helping the environment. "It was just for the money," he says. 

But scrap collection has taken on a different meaning for the boy, since he watched a video presentation on global warming at a World Vision camp for sponsored children.  It opened his eyes to the enormity of the problem, and made him realize the difference he has been making.

Part of the solution

“The video showed dried up river beds, melting ice caps, fierce storms and dying animals,” Ju-ar recalls.  “It was scary to watch because you know it could happen in the future.”  The video was enough to convince the boy that saving the environment is not just a job for adults.  He believes that children can be part of the solution, too, and has begun raising awareness among his friends and family.

“I begun by persuading my father to stop burning plastic when he cooks our meals in the morning.  At first, he was a little surprised because I’d seen him do it so many times before.  I explained to him that burning plastic is bad for our health and the environment.  Now, he doesn’t do it anymore,” says Ju-ar, with eyes gleaming.

Inspiring others

Persuading his peers to be eco-friendly wasn’t as easy as Ju-ar had hoped. “My classmates tease me when I pick up litter or when I remind them to dispose their trash in the bin. They say I’m taking over the janitor’s job.  I don’t mind it though,” he says with a smile.

"I just want my friends to realize that the issue of global warming is important. I want to inspire them with a healthy sense of respect for the environment,” he says.  Leading by example, as well as talking about the threats of global warming, Ju-ar has moved some of them to rethink the way they do things.

His friends are finally getting the point.  "When we get together, Ju-ar doesn’t miss the chance to give us his lecture,” says Dennis, a schoolmate.  “Hearing him talk about the growing hole of the ozone layer makes you think twice before throwing your trash away.”

While Ju-ar is just scratching the surface with his campaign, he is happy to hear that his message is getting through.  He hopes his campaign will grow to have a real impact in his country.