Service Learning Project-Caps of Love

Throughout all human cultures, service and giving back is considered to be a form of humbleness, humility, and compassion. Service benefits people and also benefits one’s own self-in the sense of self-pride. To achieve the good life, it is also important to help the less fortunate. In the subject of individualistic altruism, humans ultimately do things for a selfish reason, where one benefits in some way or form. However, altruism is ultimately meant to serve for others. Yes, humans do get a reward back, but in a form of self-happiness, pride, and service. That being said, every human should volunteer and provide a service back to the community: everyone benefits, and everyone feels good. Service simply keeps society running and interconnected.

I participated in a service learning project called the Caps of Love. At first thought, one may think, “What do caps have any relevance to?” but their importance is high. Plastic caps found at the tops of bottles are a harder and more concentrated form of plastic. Therefore, collecting a multitude of caps is considered valuable. Recycling caps also raises money to buy wheelchairs for disabled children.

I began collecting caps on my own. I quickly realized the amount of plastic caps that one may throw away every day. I scavenged my trash for a few bottles as well as the recycling bin and I was able to scavenge a few caps. I started asking my roommates as well to start collecting caps and within three days, half a bag of caps was filled! In total, we have managed to collect roughly 25 caps within a three day span. We are all conscious now of collecting caps and the implications as to how simply saving caps can benefit the people in need. As of right, there are 44 total caps collected, ranging from gatorade, to barbeque, to toothpaste plastic caps. It is a personal goal of mine to collect at least 100 caps per month.

Collecting caps too also helps out the environment. Recycling caps means less caps in the landfills and less pollution. Let it be kept in mind as well that yes, a cap is small. But 100 caps is a lot, or 1000, or 1,000,000 non-recycled caps each day can pile up-and the number is only higher. If a million caps would be saved each day, thousands of dollars could benefit a disabled child. Caps of Love, which is the only U.S. affiliate (led by Valerie Jones-Mathieu) of the Internatinal Charity “Bouchons D’Amour” aims to use these recycled caps to provide for disabled kids. In the good life, collecting one cap a day can benefit somebody else. This makes the person in need of help satisfied and one’s own self satisfied as well. There are many other project and needs to fulfill, but there is a start to everything. Everyone deserves at least the opportunity to succeed, and according to the good life, one must learn from the past, live in the present, and work towards the future. Servicing the world only satisfies all three.