The Recycled Paper Upcycling Project by JOCV

In Palau, waste segregation education has not been widely implemented. While cans and bottles are recycled, many recyclable items are still discarded together in one bag. This has led to the rapid filling of the National Landfill built with JICA Grand Aid project, far earlier than expected.
To address this issue, the JICA Grassroots Technical Cooperation Project, "Project to Promote Systematic Household Waste Segregation and Discharge in Babeldaob Island", launched programs at school in Babeldaob in February 2025. The goal is to teach children the importance of separating waste and reducing landfill volume.

Palau receives many donated goods from abroad, which makes it harder for children to develop a sense of caring for their belongings. In classrooms, students often throw away paper after minor mistakes and ask for new sheets.
Since February, schools have introduced separate boxes for paper, plastic, and metal, and teachers have repeatedly instructed students to “place paper flat, not crumpled” and “use the back side before discarding.” By April, awareness improved, but overall paper waste remained high.

Unlike metals and plastics, paper cannot be recycled domestically in Palau. Ms. ITO Risa, who is working at Melekeok elementary school as JICA volunteer, wants to make paper separation meaningful, students were invited to experience papermaking using discarded sheets. This activity helps them reflect on their habits, appreciate the value of paper, and reduce waste.
The handmade paper can be used for greeting cards during Thanksgiving and Christmas, adding cultural relevance and practical value.

The papermaking activity was supported by SOUP Inc. in Kamakura, Japan, which provided technical guidance based on its experience with similar school programs in Japan. Tools for papermaking were donated by the Okinawa Peace Assistance Center, granted by Toshiba International Foundation.

1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd grade Students enjoyed transforming old paper into new sheets on November 6^th and 11^th, preparing to create cards for upcoming family celebrations.

This project goes beyond recycling—it nurtures a mindset of sustainability and respect for resources among the next generation. Ms. Ito will continue expanding these educational efforts to build a more sustainable future.