March 16 marked National Trash Care Day in Indonesia. What better way to celebrate such a responsible day than to tie-up one’s sneakers, grab a reusable bag, and call a few friends over to walk through the streets, eyeing the next plastic bottle or cigarette carton waiting to get disposed of (properly).

This is exactly what Fulbright ETA Alexander Lopez-Perez has been waking up too biweekly since December when he started organizing with a couple of Bukittinggi locals who call themselves Sampah Ranger.

With a mission to change the indifference towards litter they perceive has taken up the norm of dealing with our trash (and a knack for social media), Sampah Ranger has been able to stir the people of Bukittinggi into spending their mornings picking up (other peoples?) trash.

Yes, the movement has called attention to a community problem, and asks that the strong sense of community extend to realms that would link eco-friendliness to the “collective.” Being a teacher at a school classified as a “hijau” (green) school, the collective mass action has presented Alexander with an engaging way to bring the community to the classroom for the students of MAN2 Bukittinggi (and others as well!).

Alexander Lopez-Perez is currently teaching at MAN 2 Bukittinggi, West Sumatra