A Ramsgate teenager will be on a litter-picking mission from tomorrow (August 5) to clean up Ramsgate and raise funds for a conservation trip to Costa Rica in 2029.
Leo Jangra, 16, will undertake seven days of litter-picking, five hours each day, to help raise the first milestone amount of £1,215 out of a total £3,895 needed over the next three years.
The Explorer Scout with Holy Trinity Explorers in Margate is paying for the conservation expedition in July 2029.
Leo, alongside other young people from Kent Explorer groups, will travel to Costa Rica to work with locals to help protect endangered sea turtles, restore rainforest habitats and support vital wildlife conservation.
There will also be tasks to aid people living on the islands to create access to clean water and possibly infrastructure projects such as helping to build bridges.
Leo, who will attend Canterbury Academy from September for courses including A Level film studies, business and sport, said: “It will be a two week conservation trip and we will be living in quite basic conditions in huts on the Costa Rican island and we will be looking after local wildlife and improving the quality of life for locals.
“We have to raise nearly £4000 over three years (to take part) and I thought I would do something new and different each year.
“I decided on litter-picking to give back something to my community and Ramsgate does get pretty dirty so I thought it would be a good idea.
“I do not want to ask for support and money without doing something for it.”
Leo will be litter-picking in Ramsgate from tomorrow until August 12 and will be easy to spot in hi-vis and his Explorer uniform. He will have a QR code for anyone who wants to donate on the spot.
There is also a fudraising page where people can make a donation and see daily updates posted by Leo with how much litter has been collected.
Find it at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/leo-danger
Explaining the importance of the conservation trip, Leo says: “If successful, this expedition will give me the opportunity to take part in real conservation work in one of the world’s most biodiverse countries.
“ I’ll help protect nesting sea turtles and care for hatchlings, carry out biodiversity surveys and camera trapping, learn scientific data collection techniques, and plant native trees alongside local communities to restore habitats and help tackle climate change.
“ I’ll also have the chance to work with local people through shared conservation projects, learning from each other while helping to protect Costa Rica’s incredible natural environment.”
Well done Leo, a really worthwhile activity, your actions are changing the environment for the better.
How refreshing to read of someone who is doing something worthwhile in order to crowd-fund / sponsor rather than just asking to be given money.
So congrats Leo and I shall be making a small donation.
Yes well done Leo.Noww could TDC supply more litter bins.Most bins are full everyday with litter escaping everywhere.Never to be picked by TDC operatives.So whilst idiots throw litter TDC doesnt manage the situation.
Yes TDC if you say tourism has increased 23% then you need more bins, more sweepers and more parking spaces.Deeeer.