More than 2,500 high school students from seven Tijuana institutions gathered at the Zonkeys Arena on April 27 for the launch of a new youth environmental program. Mayor Ismael Burgueño led the kickoff event for “Cuidemos el Medio Ambiente, Cuidemos Tijuana” (“Let’s Take Care of the Environment, Let’s Take Care of Tijuana”), a municipal initiative designed to fight the city’s persistent litter problem through education.
The program trains high school students to visit elementary and middle schools across the city. Once trained, they will teach younger students about keeping public spaces clean and reducing littering in their neighborhoods. The work counts toward the students’ mandatory community service (servicio social) requirements, giving participants academic credit for their outreach.
Seven Schools, One Goal
Participating institutions include Cobach (Colegio de Bachilleres), CETYS Universidad, Conalep (Colegio Nacional de Educación Profesional Técnica), and CECYTE (Colegio de Estudios Científicos y Tecnológicos), among others. Together, these schools represent a broad cross-section of Tijuana’s high school population.
Burgueño emphasized that the program is not a one-time campaign. He described it as a permanent effort, arguing that keeping the city clean should be an ongoing priority reinforced through education of younger generations. Academic officials at the event echoed that message, stating that only joint participation between society and government can produce real results in a city facing Tijuana’s scale of urban challenges.
Education Over Enforcement
The strategy marks a shift toward addressing Tijuana’s chronic waste and littering problems through classroom education rather than fines or enforcement alone. Illegal dumping and litter in public spaces, parks, and vacant lots have long been a source of frustration for residents. By targeting students at the elementary and middle school level, city officials are betting that environmental habits formed early will stick.
Tijuana’s rapid population growth, which has outpaced infrastructure for decades, has compounded its waste management challenges. The city’s school-age population is among the largest in Baja California, making schools a logical platform for public awareness campaigns.
The program’s peer-to-peer model, where older students teach younger ones, is intended to make the environmental message more relatable. High schoolers will deliver lessons on topics including urban cleanliness, proper waste disposal, and respect for shared public spaces.
Originally reported by Jornada BC and Tijuana en Línea.