My name is André Reis, I'm a teenager from Portugal, I'm 16, about to turn 17, and I'm here today to tell you about my journey in a challenge that was proposed to me by Human Nature Projects.
The Zero Waste Challenge
First of all, what did this challenge consist of? This challenge consisted in changing parts of my lifestyle so that my daily waste was less…
At first, I thought that this challenge was quite simple and that I was going to do it with the greatest of ease, but this was not the case...
The first thing I did during the challenge was to start using a reusable water bottle, which I used to carry with me every day, which I took to school… Something that I thought would not bring me any problem. But I was wrong.
Even this brought me some difficulties, because sometimes I forgot the bottle...
Another of the changes I made in my daily life was when I went to take a shower and I would put a bucket in the bathtub while I waited for the water to heat up, this way I managed to reduce the waste of water, as it ends up being used for several purposes such as: watering plants, or even wash a cloth napkin that I have also been using, in order to reduce the amount of paper I use on a daily basis.
But these were not the only things I did, I also started to prepare my own lunch that I take to school, I reduced the amounts of plastic I used to use, recycle…
In about a month, this was practically what I did and this challenge was something that I really appreciated.
You may think that these small changes may even be insignificant for the world, because after all it is something really small that possibly only I am doing ... But the important thing is not the number of things that I am doing but more of the changes that I am implementing, and that I will continue to change.
It doesn't matter the size of the act you do, the size of the change you make, because if each one of us changes their lifestyle a little, it will already have a huge impact on the world.
I believe that anyone can make a difference.
We don't need a certain type of person, it doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, male or female, or how old you are.
What really matters is the kind of change you're willing to make!
Help the planet!
I believe that we have forgotten what it really means to be human, what it really means to be alive... Just look back, for a long time we have been making a complete mess of the world we live in...
But, despite this, I also believe that we all have a chance to change that, you have a chance to change, to change for the better, you have a chance to come into harmony with the World again, you have a chance to become Human again...
Make that change in yourself, however small it may be, you will contribute to a better world, you will see that you will feel completely different… Believe in yourself, you are capable, do not let anyone tell you otherwise, because your hope and willpower in end will be enough.
You have what it takes to change the world, you have the chance to inspire more and more people to make that change…
You just have to start.