Govind Tekale
The Small Steps Project is making a big impact on the lives of children living on rubbish dumps worldwide. With the support of famous personalities like Brian May, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Margot Robbie, the 2022 auction raised over $70,000 to benefit the organization through the website Charity Stars. This annual event has already impacted the lives of over 20,000 children through essential aid, operating in various parts of the world including Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central America.
The Small Steps Project is tackling the growing global waste crisis by offering emergency support and measures to reduce the immediate dangers faced by children and families residing on dumps, such as providing adequate nutrition, gloves, and shoes. The organization is also promoting education and minimizing time spent on dumps to improve the lives of those affected. The urban poor in low-income nations, often facing serious dangers due to improper waste management and unregulated dumps, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the global waste crisis.
The Small Steps Project is working on the ground in Kenya and Uganda to address the dangers posed by dumps and eliminate the harsh reality of children scavenging on dumpsites. In Kenya, the organization is providing community facilities such as a nursery, garden, playground, and nutritional programs. In Uganda, the organization is distributing protective gloves and shoes and providing children with The Shoe That Grows, a durable shoe designed to protect their feet. The Small Steps Project has also succeeded in ensuring that children no longer have to suffer the dangers associated with waste management by providing a safe and nurturing Children’s Support Centre.
In addition to its on-the-ground projects, the Small Steps Project is also raising awareness about the work they do and the impact of the global waste crisis on children living on rubbish dumps through documentary filmmaking. These films are screened around the world and entered into competitions to bring attention to the issue and generate support.
The Small Steps Project is at the forefront of providing essential aid to those affected by the global waste crisis and is a testament to how people with a platform can use their influence to make a difference. However, reducing the issue of unsafe waste management through practices like recycling and reducing single-use plastic is also crucial in ending the cycle of child waste picking.
How can we, as a society, stand by while children are forced to scavenge on hazardous dumps just to survive? The work of the Small Steps Project raises the question of our own moral obligations to those in need and the importance of addressing the growing global waste crisis.
