I joined the Mexico City Make_sense cohort one week after the rest of the scholars, excited to being my LiA project with Hagamos Composta. Although I was slightly apprehensive about joining the group after they had already spent a week together, everyone made me feel incredibly welcome from the moment I arrived.

My first full day in Mexico was spent visiting Teotihuacán and the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe with most of the other scholars.  It was a great way to get to know everyone while also learning more about Mexico’s history and culture. Visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe demonstrated the importance of the site to millions of people across Mexico, while our visit to the Plaza of the Three Cultures provided an opportunity to learn more about the events of the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre and its lasting significance. Later, climbing one of the pyramids at Teotihuacán and learning about one of the most significant ancient civilisations, the Aztecs, was a real highlight. We also took part in a tequila and mezcal workshop, where we learnt about the production process of both drinks and the historical importance of obsidian in the region.

For my project, I am working with Hagamos Composta, an organisation that collects organic waste from households and businesses across Mexico City and transforms it into compost. Through a circular model, customers pay for buckets of food waste to be collected and the resulting compost is returned to improve soil quality. By reducing food waste sent to landfill, Hagamos Composta is helping build a more sustainable and circular food system.

Our project focuses on two main objectives. The first is to identify funding opportunities through grants and corporate sponsorships to support the organisation’s future growth. The second is to review Hagamos Composta’s operations from an external perspective and identify practical ways to improve efficiency and support future expansion.

This week, we met with Hagamos Composta’s Financial Director, who introduced us to the organisation and its organisation of finances as well as the Operations Director Itzal to gain a deeper understanding of the operational side of the business. We also visited the Hagamos Composta café, where we met the volunteers working alongside us throughout the project.

Most of our work so far has focused on understanding the organisation before proposing recommendations. We have began to potential grants and CSR opportunities while also analysing Hagamos Composta’s current operations. We also have identified several challenges which we have started to address. Although I joined the project slightly later than everyone else, the experience has reinforced the importance of listening and understanding an organisation before trying to solve its challenges. Working closely with the Hagamos Composta team has highlighted that effective recommendations need to be practical, realistic and tailored to the organisation’s specific context.

Outside of the project, I’ve also started settling into life in Mexico City. I’ve eaten loads of tacos and tried chilaquiles for the first time (although still getting used to the spice!) It’s been amazing  getting to know the other scholars while exploring such a vibrant city.