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Vajra Academy, in Kathmandu, Nepal, is the first eco-school of its kind. The curriculum and entire ethos of the school prioritizes the study of ecology and sustainable practices. Vice-principal, Udit Badra, developed “Tie-the-Trash,” an initiative combining community outreach, installation and performance art, and environmental studies. Children at Vajra Academy collect and tie the plastic waste they find in their environment, thereby creating a plastic rope. Eventually, when their rope extends 27.8 kilometers (17.3 miles), the children will pull the rope all the way around Ring Road, which encircles Kathmandu. By transforming common plastic debris into something unusual, by parading with the rope as a unified group, and by surrounding the entire city in their ties trash, these children raise awareness about protecting the earth.
Over several years, the US based Greenheart group, has made trips to Tie-the-Trash with Vajra Academy. Greenheart has used music and presentations to promote Vajra Academy’s efforts. They are also working with the Vajra School on a project to turn plastic waste into filament for 3D printing. These photos are from their most recent trip to Nepal, in November 2017, during which, Greenheart founder, James Dean Conklin, invited the Vajra School and the Bal Kendra School, both of Kathmandu, Nepal, to join Big Picture Foundation. Perhaps the example set by the Vajra School will inspire our other Big Picture schools to also Tie-the-Trash!
Greenheart includes Big Picture Foundation volunteer and patron, Julie Corbalis.
photo credit: Jim Metzger
photo credit: Jim Metzger
photo credit: Jim Metzger
photo credit: Jim Metzger
This video about the Tie-the-Trash project was created by Greenheart in 2015
