In my first week in Mexico City, I have begun my work on a project with the recycling company Rennueva. I've also met many driven and inspiring people while exploring the city's intricacies. It's been incredible to connect with other students who share a passion for protecting the earth and addressing climate change and poverty. This diverse group, with varied backgrounds, countries, and areas of study, has provided fascinating insights into each other’s hobbies, interests, languages, and cultures. It's a privilege to work alongside people united by a desire to make a difference.
Using my Spanish skills has allowed me to interact with locals on a deeper level and learn more about their culture. I've realized the importance of language in connecting with people and am inspired to continue learning new languages to open more doors. Despite the challenges of adapting to a different climate, food, and lifestyle, collaborating with my colleagues has been crucial in navigating this initial period. For instance, surviving three days without luggage before retrieving it from the airport was made smoother by working together with my peers.
In our first week, we learned about the social and economic challenges faced by Mexico City, including inequality, climate change, poverty, water scarcity, and corruption. It was devastating to see the extent of poverty in some areas and how climate change impacts poorer communities more severely than wealthier countries and regions that are responsible for most of the damage.
Despite this, it was inspiring to witness advancements in Istapalapa, one of the poorest areas in Mexico City. We visited 'Utopia Libertad,' a zone built to provide educational workshops and recreational activities for the local community. This project aims to create a sense of community and improve opportunities for residents. Seeing the joy it brought to locals was a powerful reminder of the importance of helping others and the potential for making a real difference with creativity and drive.
To prepare us for working on our own projects, we have spent a lot of the first week attending workshops to gain skills in design thinking, systemic analysis and project management. I've also been getting to know the company I will be working with, Rennueva, a recycling plant that processes hard-to-recycle materials, particularly polystyrene. My team and I have identified key issues such as the inefficiency of polystyrene recycling due to transport costs and the low yield of recycled polyester. We've also noted the need for Rennueva to improve client engagement by enhancing material tracking and providing detailed feedback to client companies. Additionally, improving communication through a newsletter and social media updates could be beneficial.
Given our initial challenges with limited information and contact with the organization, we eagerly anticipate spending more time with Rennueva's representatives and touring their recycling plant to gain deeper insights and refine our plans. In the upcoming weeks, our goal is to collaborate closely with the company and local volunteers to develop solutions that significantly contribute to Rennueva's efforts in environmental conservation.
Looking ahead to the next five weeks in Mexico City, I am eager to delve deeper into the culture of this vibrant city while continuing to connect with new people. Despite initial challenges, I am optimistic about gaining more insights and refining our plans through collaboration with Rennueva's team and local volunteers. I look forward to embracing every opportunity to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, during my time here!