One month ago, I have started organizing actions in Hunedoara, as part of the „Waste doesn’t belong at home. Take it for a hike!” environmental campaign. We are partnering, every time, with the municipality, so the first stage in setting up such an event is meeting the local authorities.
The next stage covers the field activities details: choosing the locations for the temporary drop off points, preparing the communication materials, choosing local partners for WEEE transportation and pick-up, logistic stuff.
Before setting off, we meet, naturally, in order to discuss the plan and to determine the tasks of each team member. Be it on the field or in the office, we couldn’t manage without each other. In the car, stuck with luggage, roll ups, posters and many more “must haves”, with our homework ready, we arrive at our specific destinations filled with the stride of each new beginning. We paid attention to every single detail, so nothing can stop us. And still, our team isn’t quite enough for what we have planned.
How can we inform –and, moreover, convince- a big community, comprising people of different ages, in both the urban and rural environment, to become deponents, in such short time? Apparently, we use all means of communication: print, on-line, posters, flyers, call center, loudspeaker vehicle, direct mailing for companies… And yet, as hard as we may try, our recycling message stands the risk of getting lost in the huge amount of often annoying information, contest and entertainment invitations, events of all kinds… How can we secure the attention of the citizens? Direct approach – is the answer! The neighbor or the guy from work that have heard about us, the child which has been explained, in school, how useful our actions are, the mailman, the priest, the Mayor…
The truth is, we really become present in a community when its members join us out of pure conviction. In our case, as volunteers. Volunteering associations and teachers have built the bridge!
In front of these kids and youngsters, carefully watched by teachers and, more often, by grandparents, we face, every time, the most difficult exam. They ask clear questions, they examine us, they make various remarks. And they help us get rid of – if only for a little while – our sometimes studied and artificial routine. Having their attention is the certainty they will take our message further. Age is not a barrier, when one truly believes in what will do. I’ve learned that from Luca, our youngest volunteer yet: he is only five years old. Wearing a t-shirt twice his size, with a hat that kept falling over his face, he was our most successful promoter. „Bring us your broken appliances. No use keeping them at home. It’s dangerous, it’s written so right here. You might even win a bike”. Seniors were the first to stop and accept a flyer from this enthusiastic kid – people that might have been as well his grandparents. They listened patiently, kindly smiling at him. They did what they, perhaps, wished others to do for them: listen. In that moment, nothing could’ve been more important. Next target? Youngsters, colleagues of the volunteers, more mature people…
The volunteers have shown us the most visible locations for posters display, they have distributed flyers in places we might have not been welcome, they haven’t missed one neighbor or friend, they didn’t “spare” their parents and other members of the family.
The first deponents to show up were the seniors – after all, they made a promise to the kids to participate and one can’t disapoint a grandchild. Kids came by with their parents in tow, after having their house turned upside down for WEEE. As volunteers, these children needed to set an example. Some people apparently only showed up to make sure we’re real, “fed up” with the stories and tales of the young volunteers. After learning more details, they realized they had more broken appliances – so they were asking us when we were going to come back. There were also some who made fun of us or simply went by paying no attention.
The laughter and jokes of our young volunteers, the stories of how they managed to convince even the most reluctant people to take part in this action, have given us the energy – and, more important, the good humor – to face fatigue and all the incidents that accompany such an event.
The moment when we thank the participants, when we offer “ecological civic attitude” diplomas and hand out the prizes, is always touching. The pride and joy makes us smile and remember how we were at their age. Were we as enthusiastic, as beautiful and as confident?
In such moments, the figures counting the success of our action become irrelevant. It is us who have received and have learned. Juniors and seniors, usually considered less influential and, often, as people that need to be supported, have generated a behavioral change, and have set an example for their community. People responsible for “poor educational results”, the teachers, have managed to enable tens of children to believe in volunteering.
When truly believing in what we do and what we are, we only need to move on and keep smiling. Help is one step away. Look straight into the eyes of others and you will have the proof. I’ve learned this truth from our children, grandparents and teachers.
Guest editor: Alexandra Arnăutu, IfMagic