Bottle School Project Update

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!" ~ Dr. Seuss

Today capped off a great week for the project here in Chilascó. After a brief vacation, mid-year for the kids and 4th of July for me, we got rolling on the placement of the bottles. It took a couple of days to feel out the process, but slowly we figured out the methods that work best for us and fell into our groove; we "caught the wave" as they say here.

Day after day more people are showing up to see what the town is now calling "the famous wall of bottles". As more bottles get put into place and the school takes form the people are slowly starting to believe that it's going to work. In fact, invariably they pull me aside to ask if I think they can rebuild their house (usually made of cut trees for the frame, wooden boards for the walls, and tin roofs) out of bottles. "You better keep recycling," is what I tell them.

All of the kids are eager to pitch in a hand, or at the very least stand as close as possible and watch every movement we make; their curiosity and excitement makes this project so much fun to work on. The funniest is when they stand there pointing to bottles and tell me which are the ones they filled. To entertain the kids and visitors, Don Bacilio and I will launch into impromptu lectures on recycling, protecting the environment, or the importance of thinking creatively. And at least once a day we will hop in on a schoolyard soccer match!

We have also been championing the cause in other communities. This project has a certain irresistible appeal to poor communities with trash management issues, and I have already been approached by several other towns about the possibility of helping them build their own"bottle school." I tell them all to start recycling and I will see what we can do. Furthermore, to push the envelope even further, we obtained a half hour television spot on one of the local channels, and Don Bacilio went to work educating the entire department on the magic of bottle schools. People from all over are embracing the idea, and it looks like schools across the department will soon be requiring their students to recycle in their homes, perform community clean-ups, and bring their bottles into class. These bottles are to be shared, with the idea being to expand recycling and make it possible for even small communities to gather enough materials to build new infrastructure.

Our best estimate for finishing this project is for the middle of August. We have agreed as a group that we are not going to rush through the process; that, rather than rush, we will work at a healthy pace and assure that everything is done to the best of our ability. I am all for this approach, not only because it will yield higher quality work, but also, because it affords us more opportunity to educate and inspire.

Cheers to education and inspiration,

Don Tono

Meet Luis, one of the best bottle stuffers in town.

Juan and Bacilio tying bottles to the chicken wire while Doña Rosa looks on.

Orlanca and her son washing bottles to be put in the wall. I have never seen this kid without his sombrero on.

Efraín and me tightening the chicken wire to the frame. This stuff is frustrating and dangerous to work with. After a week my hands are covered in cuts and scratches, but that chicken wire sure is on there tight!

Don Bacilio with a group of kids after one of our impromptu lectures on thinking outside of the box.

Don Efraín with some curious onlookers.

The team after a hard day's work.

Wall #1 DONE!

A couple of proud little helpers and 1,128 bottles stuffed with inorganic garbage.