HELPEnvironment
Raising a generation that looks after the ocean that looks after them.
Huanchaco beach and the REC, Cerrito de la Virgen·Since 2014
The need
Litter on the streets, plastic in the sea
WhereHuanchaco beach and the REC, Cerrito de la Virgen
Throwing rubbish onto the streets and dumping it in the ocean is still widely accepted in Peru. In Huanchaco, where many families rely on the sea for fishing, plastic pollution and climate change are making life harder every year.
We believe grassroots education is the key. By working with young people, we hope to change attitudes, build knowledge of large-scale environmental issues and show how everyday choices affect the place they call home.
Our approach
What we do
Environment classes
Weekly lessons at the REC on pollution, recycling and climate change, linked to what children see growing in our gardens.
Yo Cuido Mi Playa
Our flagship monthly beach clean brings together local young people, partner schools and volunteers from every project.
Community garden
Built by our volunteers in 2022 to teach sustainable agriculture in a hands-on, interactive way.
Renewable energy
A wind turbine now brings sustainable power to the REC classrooms, and a living lesson in clean energy.
Yo Cuido Mi Playa
“I look after my beach”
Gather
Children, families and volunteers from every OCN project meet on Huanchaco beach.
Learn
Fun, interactive activities explore a different environmental theme each month.
Clean
Gloves on, bags out: together we clear the beach of litter and plastic.
Every month
First Sunday
Growing at the REC
Community gardenSince 2022
Designed and built by our volunteers at the REC. The long-term goal is for women in Cerrito de la Virgen to run it, attending workshops so they can grow a smaller version at home.
Hydroponic garden
Our experimental hydroponic garden lets children watch their food grow from seed to plate, and learn about the environmental impact of how we farm.
In pictures
HELP Environment in action
Yo Cuido Mi Playa, first Sunday of the month Planting in reused bottles 
Clean power for the REC
HELP Environment at a glance
- HELP Environment begins
- 2014
- Yo Cuido Mi Playa beach cleans a year, one every first Sunday
- 12
- Our community garden is designed and built by volunteers
- 2022
Volunteer on this project
Join the HELP Environment team
As HELP Environment Coordinator you'll plan weekly classes and organise the monthly beach clean. Previous volunteers have launched composting and hydroponic projects, so bring your ideas.
- HELP Environment Coordinator
- Multi-Project Volunteer
Fund this project
£25a month
Environment kit
Funds soil and seeds for our community garden, and gloves and bags for our monthly beach cleans.
Soil, seeds, gloves and bags: a monthly gift keeps our gardens growing and our beach cleans equipped.
Keep exploring
Explore our other projects
HELP projectHELP English
Play-based English classes for children in Cerrito de la Virgen, plus daily lessons in local schools that can't provide English teachers.
HELP projectHELP Literacy
LitClubs that help children aged 10–15 fall in love with reading, writing and storytelling, and Spanish literacy for younger children.
HELP projectHELP Youth
From a skate ramp to a full youth programme: skateboarding, football, arts and crafts and healthy lifestyles in a safe, supervised space.
HELP projectHELP Swim
Swimming and water-safety lessons that save lives, paired with water stewardship classes. Supported by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
Partner projectGlobal Glow
GLOW Clubs run by local mentors give almost 150 girls across four communities a safe space to build agency, voice and power.
Partner projectColegio Pitágoras
Our volunteers support the English programme at one of Huanchaco's biggest primary and secondary schools.
Being restructuredHELP Women
A safe space for women in Huanchaco to learn and develop new skills. We're currently redesigning the project around what women in the community need today.