The first picture book my parents gave me was Let’s Take Care of the Earth. I used to read it every day, fascinated by how every animal and plant played a part in our world. Since then, environmental education has been an essential part of my life.
When I was young, I lived with my parents in the countryside, deeply connected with nature. I eventually moved to the capital city Asunción, shocked to see streets full of plastic waste and hungry dogs. According to city data, Asunción collects 1,000 tons of garbage a day and there are an estimated 146,000 stray dogs in the streets. Neglecting animals’ living conditions must not be allowed any longer.
I envision a world where young people educate others on how to protect our environment and animals. At age 16, I founded Mymba Rayhu, which means “love for animals” in the Guarani language. The youth-led initiative seeks to raise awareness about the stray dog situation and the consequences of plastic pollution. We build abandoned dog shelters with recycled materials, organize awareness campaigns, and educate children on environmental topics. At first, many people did not support us because we were “too young,” and the kennels we set up in the park would often get stolen. Nevertheless, we persevered until we produced results. What started out as a group of friends grew to 40 volunteers over three years, with branches in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The next step to my dream is to create educational materials based on the importance of animals in our communities. This will help hundreds of children get a proper environmental education, and their families will also become invested in community improvement. I will continue to reconnect people to nature and inspire them to take care of our environment and embrace global awareness.
Paraguay 