A Thought that Can Change Everything
My way began long ago in 2013. At that time I was a rather reserved teenager. I was so scared to ask for help… It seems “something was wrong with me”. Plus, I was not quite successful in studies, and I was not popular among the students in my school. However, despite this fact, I was always eager to unite people to make something meaningful for them. At once, I realized I don’t have time for fear and doubt. I decided to take a risk and try to change the world. But how can I do this? What important and necessary thing can I do?
While I walked I looked at the surrounding people, and nature on the other side. I saw that people throw away rubbish without hesitation, cut down forests, buy and then throw away tons of plastic. And I realized that our planet is in great danger. All change happens because of us. And I am still sure that the ecology situation depends on the actions of every person, that’s why it is necessary to explain to people how important it is to behave properly towards the environment.
Having the courage, I came to the teacher and said that I wanted to unite the students. I didn’t know yet how to make my thoughts become reality. The teacher asked me some questions: “How do you want to make your dreams come true? What is interesting to you?” I answered: “I love when it is clean. I don’t like rubbish”.
So my first environmental project “Green Patrol” was born. In the project I was able to unite pupils from the 1st to 11th school classes. I understood that the way will be long and I have to start this journey from its elementary steps. We carried out events on picking up batteries, plastic bottles, cleaning nearest forest for a long period of time. But we had a few months before the final exams.
To my regret, I had to stop my project. However, it wasn’t for too long. I realized that if we don’t stop thinking about problems, we become stronger. And a year later in Kursk State Medical University, I felt radical changes: I didn’t feel any of the fear that followed me every day 7 years ago. I just stopped thinking about it. And volunteer units and projects inspired me to fight this fear. I joined 16 volunteer units and I was learning something new from each of them. Due to the knowledge I had got, I realized that I could improve, enlarge and develop my school idea.
My new environmental project is called “CGW” (Clean Green World). This time it has become more organized. It has the system, definite targets and goals.
Firstly, I told my friends about CGW, and found like-minded people among students of other courses and faculties of our university. Later, the students from other universities and schools learned about the project.
Our project has its department in Kursk and Lgov. There are about 40 people from different educational institutions (KSMU, KSU, SWSU, Agricultural Academy) in the main group of the project. We are joined by the common goal — to protect and improve our environment. We hold community work days and different activities. We inform people about ordinary everyday acts that can help improve the environment.
From autumn of 2019, we started an event to collect used batteries. The members of the project arranged some stations where they collected used batteries. Also, they put up posters with the contact information about the project.
But we are not going to stop our activity after having achieved some results. We set wild goals, and work out methods to achieve these goals. Besides, we provide information, as well as involve more people in our important matters. I believe that the amount of like-minded people will increase.
And I believe we will be able to protect our planet together!
That is my way. It is not covered with the mist of uncertainty. If I follow this way I will not keep silent about the things I want to say.
text Ilya Maltsev
translated by Natalia Litvinenko
edited by Law Yi Wan, Reshma Durai
