Our Team
Zefeng
Founder and President
During his daily commute to and from school, Zefeng couldn’t help but notice a concerning trend: a significant number of households neglecting to place recycling bins in front of their homes on garbage pickup days. It saddened him to witness that a mere 40% of households were actively participating in proper recycling disposal, while the majority simply combined their waste without regard for recycling.
This realization deeply moved Zefeng and ignited a passionate drive within him to make a difference. He firmly believes in the importance of recycling and its profound impact on environmental preservation. Recycling is not just a simple act of separating waste; it is a vital step towards conserving our planet’s resources, reducing pollution, and combating climate change.
Witnessing the widespread lack of engagement with recycling, Zefeng felt an urgent need to take action and initiate a transformative change in his community. He understands that to create lasting change, it is essential to address the issue at its core and inspire meaningful participation.
With this in mind, Zefeng came up with a visionary idea. He recognized that by establishing an SSL (Student Service Learning) organization focused on volunteer service hours, he could create a powerful catalyst for transforming recycling habits. His vision is to encourage households with students to actively engage in recycling disposal twice a week, aligning with garbage pickup days.
To ensure accountability and provide tangible evidence of their SSL hours, participants would be required to document their commitment by capturing photographs of the recycling bins placed in front of their homes. This approach not only encourages active participation but also serves as a visual representation of the collective effort and impact being made.
Witnessing the widespread lack of engagement with recycling, Zefeng felt an urgent need to take action and initiate a transformative change in his community. He understands that to create lasting change, it is essential to address the issue at its core and inspire meaningful participation.
With this in mind, Zefeng came up with a visionary idea. He recognized that by establishing an SSL (Student Service Learning) organization focused on volunteer service hours, he could create a powerful catalyst for transforming recycling habits. His vision is to encourage households with students to actively engage in recycling disposal twice a week, aligning with garbage pickup days.
To ensure accountability and provide tangible evidence of their SSL hours, participants would be required to document their commitment by capturing photographs of the recycling bins placed in front of their homes. This approach not only encourages active participation but also serves as a visual representation of the collective effort and impact being made.
By fostering a sense of responsibility and emphasizing the significance of recycling, Zefeng’s initiative aims to instill a lasting change in attitudes and behaviors. He understands that it is crucial to raise awareness about the importance of recycling, not only for the present but also for the well-being of future generations.
Through his passion and determination, Zefeng strives to inspire others to join him on this journey towards a more environmentally conscious society. He firmly believes that with each small step towards responsible waste management, they can collectively make a significant difference in preserving the planet for all living beings.
Sophie
Co-founder and Vice President
It started with a trip to the recycling center. Watching the workers sort through Montgomery County’s recycling, Sophie realized the importance of recycling and helping preserve the planet for the future. However, she saw how little her own family paid attention to properly recycling every day, igniting a passion for protecting the planet.
Sophie wants to spread recycling awareness throughout communities, making a lasting impact. Still, she knows that just telling others about recycling will not work. Rather, hands-on activities create both experience and good habits.
By focusing on creating recycling habits in middle and high schoolers, the importance of the environment can become more prevalent in future generations. These students will ultimately become leaders and contributing members of society, which is why Sophie believes creating awareness for the planet early on is important.
It started with a trip to the recycling center. Watching the workers sort through Montgomery County’s recycling, Sophie realized the importance of recycling and helping preserve the planet for the future. However, she saw how little her own family paid attention to properly recycling every day, igniting a passion for protecting the planet.
Sophie wants to spread recycling awareness throughout communities, making a lasting impact. Still, she knows that just telling others about recycling will not work. Rather, hands-on activities create both experience and good habits.
By focusing on creating recycling habits in middle and high schoolers, the importance of the environment can become more prevalent in future generations. These students will ultimately become leaders and contributing members of society, which is why Sophie believes creating awareness for the planet early on is important.
Teaming up with Zefeng, Sophie realized that she could use her social and communication skills to effectively spread a message. By utilizing Montgomery County’s Student Service Learning system, Sophie and Zefeng can promote recycling to the 150,000+ students throughout the county. Sophie hopes to inspire action and a sense of duty towards our only home, Earth.
Maylea Al-Hajj
Treasurer
Maylea is a passionate and dedicated student who puts her heart into everything she does. Having lived in many different places growing up, she experienced many different cultures and environments. However, she noticed a trend while living in all these places — much more could be done to help nature. Having noticed this, especially after learning about the human consumption of natural resources, pollution, littering, and issues concerning climate change, Maylea grew determined to make a difference and keep the planet safe. From a young age, Maylea had been taught to recycle and she understood it was important to do so. As it has now become ingrained as a part of her daily life, she strives to actively encourage others to do the same. Maylea hopes to effectively communicate the message that everyone around the world can do their part, no matter how small, in order to save our one and only planet Earth.
Aimee Chu-Roxas
Social Media Manager
Aimee is a student-athlete with a love for the water. She found a love for recycling after a trip to Hawaii, where she witnessed plastic’s effect on sea animals. That experience made her want to take action to make a change in her community. She learned that by using her graphic design skills and knowledge about internet algorithms she would be able to efficiently spread her message throughout her community. She hopes that in taking action, others will also make an effort to better their recycling habits and reduce waste in the environment.
