Transforming Oceans and Lives: The "One Beach at a Time" Project by Scouts of Colombia

3 minutes

In August 2023, the Colombian Scout Group 171 Salvadores de Medellín, launched the "One Beach at a Time" project. This endeavor not only brought about a transformation in a Coveñas beach but also made a lasting impact on both the community and the awareness of youth and adults.
Scouts Colombia gathered at the beach
World Scout Bureau

What started as a simple beach cleanup transformed into a more extensive mission when the group, comprising 56 young people and 23 adults, decided to participate in the Plastic Tide Turners and Champions for Nature Challenges of the EarthTribe Initiative, aligned with Scouts for the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). 

Recognizing the devastating impact of plastic waste on oceans, the Scouts took on the responsibility of collecting litter and educating local tourists about the significance of recycling. Moreover, they pledged to collaborate with the community, imparting creative methods for reusing materials recovered from the sea, fostering a circular economy, and creating economic opportunities for a vulnerable population.
Scouts collecting garbage at the beach
World Scout Bureau

During a 5km beach cleanup, approximately 11.5 kilograms of PET bottle caps and 24 trash tarps, each weighing 50 kilograms and containing plastics, cans, bottles, and other waste, were gathered. Scouts also implemented ingenious devices to collect cigarette butts on the beach, preventing marine pollution.
"We were very surprised by the amount of trash we managed to collect in just 5 km; most of the waste was recyclable. This project not only taught us in our Scout Group but also the entire community that every person, no matter who you are, can contribute to help our planet."
Miguel Ángel López Loaiza
Scout Group 171 Salvadores, Troop
Building on the success of the initial phase, in July 2024, the Colombian Scout group aims to amplify their impact in the second phase of the project. Their objective is to further reduce plastic pollution and reinforce community commitment to preserving their coasts. Together, we can contribute to "Phase II: One Beach at a Time" by either sharing the initiative or making donations through the Scout Donation Platform.
 
The "One Beach at a Time" initiative by Scout Group 171 Salvadores demonstrates that with determination, education, and community action, it is possible to inpire positive change. These Colombian Scouts, one beach at a time, make significant contributions to ocean preservation, leaving a lasting positive impact on the lives of the local community.
EarthTribe