On January 5 2020, the members from the region of Cordoba in Argentina as well as ASEZ members from Korea gathered in the district of Pigue to participate in volunteer work. Since the area was an underdeveloped location, there was no proper landfill collection site, making it difficult to breathe properly due to the smell of garbage and rotting animal carcasses.

Despite such conditions, the ASEZ members were able to carry out the volunteer work, removing all the garbage and even making graves for the dead animals. Additionally, tree-planting activities were conducted to create a more pleasant community environment. This gesture inspired some residents to come out and clean their own front yards.

“We were very pleased to participate in the volunteer efforts with ASEZ,” said Roman Pereira, General Director of Adaptation and Mitigation Climatic Change at the Ministry of Environment of Cordoba, who hosted the event. “The mission of ASEZ is to bring change where there is a problem, which is why their activities are very important. I would like to continue working together to carry out these specific projects in 2020,” he stated while praising the ASEZ members.

ASEZ member Park Min-hyeok, a freshman of the Department of Economics at Incheon National University, said, “When I first arrived, I was worried that our volunteer work would not make a difference in this place. Not only has it been cleaned, but even the residents are cleaning their own front yard. Though it was a small volunteer effort, it can serve as an example for others, leading to solve environmental problems that are occurring globally.”

The Ministry of Environment of Cordoba presented the ASEZ members with a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their efforts. They collected about 60 kg (130 lb) of garbage on that day.

Like this, the volunteer activities of ASEZ members carried out all around the world may be considered small steps, but result in large-scale change that calls the attention of all global citizens to actively participate in improving the quality of life in their local communities.