On December 3rd, Dibulla celebrated the official inauguration of its first School Eco-Store, an initiative that marks a milestone in environmental education, circular economy, and community participation in La Guajira. This project — driven by Fundación Yo Juego and supported by local organizations — introduces an innovative model: exchanging recyclable materials for school supplies, art materials, games, and even bottles of drinking water.
The Eco-Store opened its doors with a clear message: “what we call trash still has value.” Its purpose is twofold. On one hand, it seeks to reduce the significant local waste problem affecting Dibulla’s beaches, rivers, and streets. On the other, it offers children and families an economic alternative to access school and recreational items, helping reduce barriers that often contribute to school dropout.
How the Green Barter Works
The process is simple and educational.
Children and young people follow three steps:
- Collect bottles, cans, and cardboard from their homes or surroundings.
- Bring the materials clean and dry to the Eco-Store.
- Exchange the recyclables for notebooks, coloring materials, games, school supplies, or drinking water bottles.
During the inauguration, recycling workshops were also held, where participants earned green points to redeem later. This system turns each child into an active recycling actor: collecting, sorting, learning, and generating a direct impact in their community.
A Model Inspired by Previous Success
The Dibulla Eco-Store draws inspiration from earlier experiences such as the “Plastic Store” in Bahía Málaga, demonstrating that waste can become an educational, environmental, and economic opportunity.
The model relies on three pillars:
- Circular economy: recyclables are sent to local recycling partners to continue their value chain.
- Bartering: no money is used — just clean, well-separated recyclables.
- Community participation: shopkeepers, artisans, fishers, and families all join the process.
A Step Toward a Cleaner Dibulla
Dibulla faces one of its biggest challenges in waste management. Lack of waste separation, trash in streets and beaches, and limited collection capacity make initiatives like this urgently needed. With the Eco-Store, the community begins strengthening an environmental culture from early childhood and from home.
The project also opens doors to new alliances: regenerative tourism, green businesses, the sale of sustainable products, and permanent environmental education spaces.
A Day to Learn, Play, and Create
The inauguration became a community celebration centered on recycling and caring for the environment. Throughout the day, children took part in activities designed to help them learn while having fun:
🎨 Painting Workshop
Participants expressed their vision of nature, the sea, Dibulla, and local ecosystems through murals and drawings — strengthening creativity while discussing the impact of waste on the environment.
🧩 Traditional Games
Activities included yermis, spinning tops, hula hoops, races, and other traditional games that connected children with local culture and encouraged outdoor play.
♻️ Recycled Creations
Using bottles, cardboard, and caps, children crafted toys, pencil holders, figures, and small works of art — a practical demonstration that recycling has value beyond the bin.
💬 Talks on the Importance of Recycling
Environmental educators explained why Dibulla faces such a significant waste challenge, how to separate materials at home, and why plastic is one of the most critical materials to recover.
🎉 Guided Recreation
Campers from the national program Campamentos Juveniles animated and led recreational activities that combined movement, teamwork, and messages about caring for the environment.
🌈 Face Painting
Children ended the day with their faces painted as animals, plants, and environmental symbols — reinforcing the eco-identity of the event.
A Gift for the Municipality
The School Eco-Store is now fully operational and represents a gift for Dibulla, built through collaboration among community organizations, educational institutions, and local stakeholders. The message is clear: recycling is a collective act, and every bottle, can, or piece of cardboard that doesn’t end up in the ocean is a victory for the community.
With initiatives like this, La Guajira demonstrates that sustainability is built from the ground up — from simple actions, local participation, and the leadership of those who will inherit the territory: children.
For more information, visit the official Eco-Store website and learn how to install the app so you don’t miss any updates.
Watch this video from inauguration day, created by project partners:
