Volunteering

Blog Entry 4

Eland Bronstein - Let Live Travel Tour Guide / Volunteer Relations Coordinator

In my search for volunteer projects for our future tour groups, I have encountered many different opportunities. Recently, I met four people that are passionately working on different environmental projects including; protecting and preserving important forested areas, ecosystems, culture and water, in the Himayalan regions. I am hoping to create a mix of volunteer projects for the Let Live Travel tours that include giving in many forms. Giving to the environment is one form of giving that I think is so important. Everywhere in the world people our facing extremes in climate that have been caused by our lack of care for our planet. In India, where over a billion people live, it is extremely crucial to take care of the environment. India has many incredibly beautiful areas that our littered with garbage, due to the increase of non-biodegradable waste products, more people in general, lack of knowledge and lack proper clean up systems.

Today, I worked with Clean Himalaya to help pick up garbage on the sides of the street. Of course I wasn't doing back-flips for excitement to clean up other peoples garbage, but I loved the idea behind what they are doing. So at 7 AM a small group of us met on the main road, we each got some gloves and a bag and started picking up garbage. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and the cleaning was over. I had an amazing talk with one new friend while cleaning about why we choose to be involved in volunteering and how rewarding it was. Picking up garbage also made me realize a few things. At first was grumpy and upset to pick someone else's garbage, but then I realized how someone else must feel picking up my garbage, which was very humbling. It also sent a message to the local people who stood outside their shops watching us tirelessly cleaning stuff from their shop. The massage is deal with your garbage so other people don't have too.

The problem is there isn't many ways to deal with your garbage. One man has been working extremely hard for 15 years to change this. He lives in the holy city of Rishikesh, that the famous Ganga River runs through. He started Clean Himalaya, who developed a garbage pick up service, that gives locals another option opposed to throwing their trash in the Ganga. The project also employs 14 local full time staff. It should hardly be called a garbage pick up service because 80-90% of what is removed is actually recyclable - for a profit! They can actually sell the sorted recyclables to help pay the workers. The system is self-sustaining and making a huge environmental impact on the area.

Let Live Travel is also working with a another woman who is creating a similar waste collection system in a village in Northern India. Waste collection exists in some parts of India, but usually does not exist in the villages. Often locals just throw the trash into the river or burn it on the street causing toxins to release into the air. I am excited to see the changes in the near future as this project unfolds and continue to support the service that Clean Himalaya is doing. It has been so inspiring to meet people that are so devoted to make a better future for our planet.

Namaste for now,

- Eland

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