Faces of Change

At The Trash Punx, we believe real change starts with people—those who see a problem and decide to do something about it. From high school students leading clean-ups in their neighborhoods to grassroots innovators turning waste into hope across the globe, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside remarkable individuals who are reshaping their communities and inspiring the world. This page celebrates their stories. These are the faces of change—leaders, dreamers, and doers who remind us that love, stewardship, and action are the foundation of a better planet.

At the heart of one of The Trash Punx’ most powerful global partnerships are two incredible changemakers: Therese Hjelm and Sabore Ole Oyie, the Co-Founders of Sabore’s Well. Together, they are bridging continents to bring clean water, education, healthcare, and opportunity to communities in Kenya.

The mission of Sabore’s Well is deeply human: to assist African communities by creating opportunities for a better life—through wells, schools, scholarships, and leadership programs that empower individuals to thrive. But beyond the mission, it’s their heart, humility, and hands-on leadership that make Therese and Sabore such a force for good.

When The Trash Punx began dreaming of a Micro Upcycling Center in Ewaso Ngiro, it was Therese and Sabore who turned that dream into a reality. From navigating logistics and community outreach to hands-on support and cultural insight, they were instrumental in the launch and success of the center. Their collaboration helped create not only jobs and cleaner streets, but also a replicable model for sustainable waste management across the region.

This is more than a partnership—it’s a friendship grounded in shared purpose. Working with Therese and Sabore has been fun, energizing, and transformational for all involved. The impact is undeniable, both for the community in Kenya and for the growing global movement it represents.

Hellen Nkuraiya is more than a community leader—she is a protector of girls, a visionary educator, and a powerful advocate for environmental resilience. A proud member of the Maasai community, Hellen turned her own painful experiences with early marriage and FGM into a lifelong mission to ensure no girl ever has to walk that path again.

As the founder of Tepesua CBO and Tepesua School, Hellen has created a safe haven for children—especially girls—where they receive education, support, and the tools to build a better future. But her impact doesn’t stop there.

When The Trash Punx met Hellen during a visit to her school, we were blown away. Her campus is a living model of innovation and sustainability. Students collect animal dung on their walk to and from school, fueling methane bladders that power the kitchen. Waste becomes art, education, and opportunity. Teaching tools and decorations are fashioned from discarded materials—demonstrating that nothing is truly “trash” in a world where creativity meets care.

Hellen’s work spans environmental action, cultural preservation, and women’s empowerment. Through the Tepesua Cultural Eco Camp, she provides employment and dignity to widows while promoting sustainable tourism. Her programs in beadwork, farming, and micro-enterprise build long-term security for women in her community.

She is a cornerstone of The Trash Punx school presentations—a vivid example of how courage, innovation, and community-rooted action can change the world.

Sometimes, the right person shows up at exactly the right time. For The Trash Punx, that person was Issac Kamara.

Two years ago, on our first trip to Ewaso Ngiro, we were leading a large-scale cleanup—hot, sweaty, overwhelming work in a place with no formal trash service and a serious pollution problem. Hours into the effort, a quiet man appeared and stood nearby, watching. When we asked if he needed something, he simply said: “Yes. I need tools and equipment to clean up my side of town.”

It stopped us in our tracks.

In that moment, Issac spoke the exact words we had hoped to hear—not because we wanted help, but because that spirit of stewardship is everything The Trash Punx stands for. He didn’t ask for a handout. He asked for ownership. He wanted to clean, protect, and uplift his community. And that’s when we knew: Issac wasn’t just part of the story—we were stepping into his.

Two years later, when we made the bold decision to open a Micro Upcycling Center in Ewaso Ngiro, it was clear who should lead it. Issac Kamara became our very first Center Manager—and more than that, the heart and soul of the operation.

Under his leadership, plastic trash that once polluted streets is now being transformed into practical, beautiful products. The Center is providing jobs, cleaning the town, protecting wildlife, and proving that circular economy models can thrive in rural areas. And Issac? He’s turning hope into habit—day after day, piece by piece.

Sometimes, the most powerful stories find you by surprise.

While on a visit to Kibera to meet another changemaker, we passed a tiny, colorful shop tucked into a side path—where a woman was quietly sewing. Curious, we stopped. That woman was Violet Ochieng’ and what she was working on that day would stay with us forever.

Violet had created a reusable cloth diaper—a solution to an urgent and often invisible crisis. Diapers in Kibera are expensive. Many mothers face daily choices between buying food or clean diapers. Some babies spend long hours in soiled ones, while others wear washed and reused disposables, with no access to proper sanitation. And on top of that, diapers pile up in landfills with no path for proper disposal.

Through her social enterprise, Veeklture, Violet is changing that. She’s creating affordable, washable diapers that reduce waste and restore dignity—while also training young women in her community in production, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. What began as a single stitch in a small shop is now a thread weaving resilience, equity, and environmental care through one of Nairobi’s most underserved communities.

Meeting Violet reminded us that real solutions often come from people living closest to the problem—with creativity, care, and unstoppable will.

Some people walk you through a workshop—and some walk you through a transformation. That’s what Joe Mwakiremba did for The Trash Punx during our visit to Ocean Sole in Nairobi.

As Head of Sales for this world-renowned social enterprise, Joe gave us a tour we’ll never forget—showing how discarded flip flops, collected from beaches and waterways, are cleaned, carved, and turned into vibrant, stunning art pieces sold around the world. From sea turtles to giraffes, every sculpture is more than just artwork—it’s a message of recovery, resilience, and creativity in the face of pollution.

What makes Joe unforgettable isn’t just his knowledge—it’s his joy. He answered our million questions with enthusiasm, told the stories behind the work, and reminded us why turning trash into treasure is about so much more than aesthetics. It was a conversation with Joe that reignited our fire to elevate this kind of transformation around the world.

Joe and Ocean Sole reminded us that even the dirtiest, most forgotten pieces of waste can become symbols of beauty and change. Their story is our story—and one we are proud to tell.

Deb Kramer is the driving force behind Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful (KCCB), a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to the restoration, education, and celebration of one of San Jose’s most vital yet often overlooked waterways. Since founding KCCB in 2014, Deb has mobilized thousands of volunteers, removed hundreds of tons of trash, and built a vibrant community around environmental stewardship.

Her approach is holistic—blending action, education, and recreation. From creek cleanups and BioBlitz events to community hikes and art installations, Deb ensures that every initiative fosters a deeper connection between people and nature. Under her leadership, KCCB has become a model for urban conservation, demonstrating how local engagement can lead to meaningful ecological change.

Beyond her organizational achievements, Deb has been a mentor and inspiration to The Trash Punx. Her guidance and collaborative spirit have influenced our own programs and initiatives, reinforcing the importance of community-driven environmental action.

Steve Holmes has spent over a decade restoring life to the creeks of San Jose. As the founder of South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition, he’s led efforts to remove hundreds of tons of trash and helped bring back native wildlife—from salmon to beavers.

Steve’s vision and leadership are why organizations like The Trash Punx exist. His work inspires us to think bigger, dig deeper, and never give up on the wild places woven through our cities.

Some people join a movement. Others help create one. When Tomas Nieto launched the Marine Conservation Club at Pioneer High School, he wasn’t just organizing cleanups—he was redefining what student leadership could look like. Beach cleanups. Bonfire advocacy nights. School-wide assemblies. It was clear from the beginning that Tomas wasn’t waiting for permission to lead—he just did it.

But it’s what he did for The Trash Punx that makes his story even more special. Tomas was the inspiration behind our Local Stewardship Program. His commitment to environmental action, his hunger to do more, and his contagious energy lit a spark for us. It made us realize: if one student could do all this, imagine what could happen if we built a framework to support others like him.

Tomas became our very first Local Stewardship Partner—and more than that, a model for what this next generation of changemakers is capable of. Through his leadership, hundreds of students at Pioneer have become more aware, more active, and more hopeful about their role in protecting the planet.

Aden Xiao may live halfway across the world, but his heart beats for both the Yangtze River and his hometown of San Jose. As an 11th grader at the British School of Nanjing, Aden leads the BSN Guardians, a student-run conservation club with a bold mission: protect the Yangtze finless porpoise, one of the world’s most endangered aquatic mammals.

Inspired by a course through the BELL 2023 Alaska program, Aden crafted an action plan to clean up the Yangtze River. With the support of his school, he launched BSN Guardians, rallied students, created social media platforms, organized porpoise-watching tours and rescue drills, and even hosted awareness booths at school fairs. His club now actively works to raise awareness, reduce pollution, and advocate for this incredible species.

When The Trash Punx received Aden’s message asking to collaborate, we were moved—not only by his passion, but by the poetry of it. A student from San Jose reaching across the globe to protect his adopted home river? That’s what global stewardship looks like. His vision, creativity, and tenacity remind us why we believe in young people leading change.

Some of the best partnerships start with a simple idea: What if we just cleaned up as we walked?

That’s how the Sonora Area Walkers and Hikers Meetup caught our attention—and quickly became part of The Trash Punx’ Local Stewardship Program. This dedicated group of trail-lovers turned their routine walks into acts of care for Tuolumne County’s trails and towns, picking up litter with every step.

They came to us with a clear message: We want to steward our environment. And with a signed agreement and gear in hand, they got to work. In their very first month, they held eight clean-up hikes and collected nearly 30 pounds of trash—proving that even small groups can make a big impact when they stay consistent and intentional.

Their story reminds us that not all changemakers come with fanfare. Sometimes, they come with walking sticks, gloves, and the quiet determination to make every mile matter.