As part of the Oceans Month activities, about 400 Seventh-day Adventist young people joined the Office of the Mayor of Panama City for a cleanup day on Costa del Este beach, Sep. 1, 2024. The effort not only sought to restore the natural beauty of this important coastal space but also reaffirm the commitment of young people to caring for the environment, a principle that it’s part of their everyday life and religious beliefs.

For more than 20 years, Panama has dedicated every September to create awareness about the importance of marine ecosystems and the urgent need to protect them. During this month, educational and clean-up initiatives in collaboration with public, private, and non-profit organizations take place.

In 2024, the event focused specifically on the challenge of plastic pollution in oceans. According to a report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), plastics account for 85 percent of the waste that ends up in the oceans, with projections indicating that by 2040, the amount of plastics in the seas could triple. Adventist leaders said this alarming forecast is one of the reasons that prompted Adventist youth to participate in the cleanup of Costa del Este Beach, one of the most popular in Panama.

Youth Clean-up Initiative

From early morning on Sep. 1, young volunteers showed up on the beach equipped with gloves and garbage bags, ready to collect as much waste as possible. For many of them, this act not only represented a work of community service but also an opportunity to live their faith in a tangible way, organizers said.

Volunteers managed to collect large amounts of garbage, mostly plastics, which had been swept away and brought by rivers and ocean tides, said Carlos Rangel, coordinator of the volunteers of the Metropolitan Panama Conference. By the end of the day, the beach had recovered some of its original state, something which made young people proud of their contribution, he added.

Good Stewards of the Planet

The Office of the Mayor of Panama City, which help to coordinate the initiative, thanked Adventist volunteers for their commitment. “We are deeply grateful to these young people for their dedication and effort,” said Jarelys Gómez, representative of the Environmental Management Office. “Not only have they helped clean up one of our most important beaches, but they have also inspired others to join the cause. It is essential that we understand that our actions have a direct impact on the well-being of our planet.”

“It is an honor for us to participate in this activity,” said Rangel. “We firmly believe that taking care of the environment is a way of honoring God’s creation. We have a duty to preserve nature, and activities like this allow us to accomplish that purpose.”

Serving God and the Community

For many of the participants, the experience allowed them to reflect on the importance of small but significant actions to protect the environment.

Rolando Lyne, a 14-year-old from San Miguelito Adventist Church who was part of the group, shared his experience. “At first, I wasn’t sure how much we would accomplish in just one morning. But when we saw the amount of trash we collected, I realized that every little effort counts. It’s amazing how something as simple as picking up trash can be a way to serve God and our community,” Lyne said.

Another volunteer, 17-year-old Yorlenis Villarreal from Belén Adventist Church, also highlighted the feeling of community and purpose after participating in the initiative. “What I found most surprising is to see how we were all united by a common cause. We didn’t just clean the beach but also strengthened our mutual bonds. I feel more connected to my church and my community, and I want to keep participating in activities like this.”

Living Their Faith

For Adventist young people, the act of cleaning beaches goes beyond the simple task of volunteering. It is an extension of their faith, leaders said. “The Bible teaches us that we are stewards of God’s creation,” explained Pastor Misael González, youth ministries director of the Panama Union Mission. “By cleaning up this beach, we are being good stewards of the world that God has entrusted to our care. It is a tangible way of living our faith,” he said.

In addition to the cleanup, the day served as a platform to educate the community about the importance of keeping the natural environment clean and garbage-free. The participation of Adventist youth underscores a growing awareness of sustainability among the new generations, organizers explained. In a global context where climate change and marine pollution are major concerns, local action can be a powerful driver of change, they said.

The Sep. 1 event concluded with a thank you ceremony in which volunteers were honored for their dedication.

Beyond the immediate results of the cleanup, the efforts of young volunteers have sown a seed of awareness in the community, Adventist leaders said.

“Change is possible when the community comes together for a common cause,” Gómez said at the end of the event.

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division website.