Written by: Veronika Groener
Article source: JOY! Magazine
Ira and her dog, Jabu, have become passionate garbage collectors. By picking up rubbish she ignited a spark that spread like wildfire. An inspiring example of stewardship – of nature.
Jabu and Polish kids helping to clean up the forest.
Two years ago, Ira moved to Łódź, Poland with her family. As her Golden Doodle needs lots of exercise and she loves nature, she is outdoors every day. Soon she noticed litter on her way through the neighbourhood and forest, spoiling the fun. Ira decided to do something about it. “And the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.” – Genesis 2:15
Giving back
“Poland is my home now” she says, “Wherever I’ve lived, I’ve always tried to take care of my environment and give back to the community in whatever way I could.” To Ira, cleaning up the forest is a way to say thank you for living here, a way to give back.
“To me it feels like the forests can breathe again,” explains Ira.
Stewardship with a twist
As a Christian she believes in faithful stewardship. Not just of her finances, but of everything: relationships, health, talents, home, and even one’s neighbourhood and city. “Whatever is given to you, you need to take care of it.” Adding with her charismatic smile, she says, “Sure, picking up someone else’s rubbish is not pleasant, by a long stretch. But I figured, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. We now actually have fun doing it. Meeting people and building relationships within my community is the sweet reward. It made integration a lot easier.”
Pollution is everyone’s problem
Nowadays she goes into the forest equipped with two bags each time and usually comes back with them overflowing. If it is too heavy to carry, she leaves them and picks them up by car later. “People keep thinking: this is not my trash and not my problem. But for me it is. Pollution is everyone’s problem.” Sometimes people stop by to thank her and are flabbergasted to hear that a foreigner clears up the public forest. “I can see that they feel embarrassed. But that is not my point. I am rather hoping that it could inspire them. And it has!”
“A wise man saves for the future” (Prov 21:20)
Soon her neighbours noticed the piles of rubbish bags in front of her house after running in the forest and now, they join her regularly. “In the beginning I thought that what I was doing was pointless, a drop in the bucket. But seeing three families joining in on a major clean-up was so motivating.” They collected so much in one morning, including car seats, refrigerators, car tires, clothes etc., that it took three trucks to collect it all.
The city is trying hard to tackle the problem as well. “I’ve noticed many new bins. And this is wonderful. However, I can still go on a run in my neighbourhood and not find a bin for 5km. Do you know what discipline it takes to carry around a bag of dog poo for 5km?!” she says laughingly. “We still need more bins. And bins in the right places.”
Living inspiration
But she has hope, and feels inspired by what she has seen. “We are all on the same team. Never again will I use the excuse that I can’t speak the language. Or, if it feels like an impossible task. Or if I am the only one person.” Don´t underestimate the power of one. Be the spark that lights the fire. Ira is a living example. With something as simple as picking up litter, we can be good stewards and make a difference.
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Date published: 24/08/2022
Feature image: Ira and Polish friends are taking care of the forest by picking up litter.
Ira Van Der Merwe – South African artist living in Łódź, Poland. Visit iravandermerwe.com for more of her art.
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