Xoloplastics
In 2020 Xoloplastics continued to grow and established itself as a model of financial sustainability for Imaginalco, all while generating employment and training for young people in the community with a focus on environmental sustainability. Despite economic adversities, with great creativity, we continue to position ourselves as a quality artistic project, even internationally!
In February, we participated in the art week in CDMX within BADA, a fair in which more than 100 artists participate. We exhibited works that were created in collaboration with artist Ane Alfeirán. The funds raised allowed us to continue with the training of young people in training at Imaginalco.
Faced with the effects of Covid-19, we launched a fundraising campaign through the sale of works of art created by the Xoloplastics team with recycled plastics. Donors interacted with the project by designing and personalizing their paintings.
Throughout the year, Xoloplastics made its name in Asia by establishing relationships with two new partners. First, in alliance with Soho House Hong Kong we created a series of works by different artists who intervened our mosaic triangles to create pieces of art with positive social and environmental impact. The pieces were auctioned and we raised funds that encouraged us to continue operating. Secondly, with the Climate Change Museum of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, at the end of the year, we carried out a collaboration on the occasion of the institution's seventh anniversary; in Xoloplastics we produced eco-friendly tangrams (an ancient Chinese game) made from recycled plastic. The design of the game was inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Xoloplastics School
In August, the first generation of the Xoloplastics School started: an employment and training program in which we seek to ensure access to decent work for young people. The project was designed in collaboration with our partners from Tres Tierras, to promote the development of psychosocial skills in the participants. Young people are part of a regularization process in basic knowledge of mathematics, literacy, and computers; training in design techniques and materials, as well as marketing and sales. In December 2020, each student managed to present a business model to which they wanted to dedicate themselves. Thus, with Escuela Xoloplastics we managed to expand the capacities and possibilities of its participants towards the future, and encourage them to be agents of social change in the community.
It is a community, artistic, educational, productive and sustainable project. Through the collection and transformation of disused plastic, we create works of art with positive social and environmental impact. In this way we fight against the climate crisis, we generate jobs and resources to finance our programs.
Impact
We work directly with 6 participants.
We recycle 1.5 tons of plastic
We produced 19 works of art and 75 tangrams with positive social and environmental impact
We collaborate with 8 national and international artists.
"The most important thing I see about the opportunity to be at Xoloplastics is that you know yourself better. I am proud of myself, proud of the people around me, of what I have learned and of the people who promote that the program happens and is carried out. "
Valeria
Xoloplastics School participant
Thank you for helping us make this program possible!
