Hi, I’m Gera!
I grew up in a small town in the Global South, in a family that worked tirelessly to make ends meet. My parents took on any job they could to put food on our table and support our studies, and at a young age, I witnessed firsthand what poverty and inequality looked like. But I also witnessed resilience, determination, and hope.
At 9 years old, I spent afternoons scavenging with my siblings and cousins, collecting plastic sachets we could sell for a few pesos. It wasn’t something our parents forced us to do. It was simply our way of providing for the little things they couldn’t give, like school allowance or a weekend snack. At the time, I didn’t realize what those sachets represented: the pollution quietly building up in our communities and the vulnerability of families like mine who lived closest to its effects.
As I grew older, I started connecting the dots. I lived through flash floods, droughts, and storms that devastated our community, including one terrifying typhoon where the house we were hiding in partially collapsed. Those moments were a wake-up call. Not only were we poor, but we were also deeply vulnerable to a changing climate. It pushed me to dream bigger. A dream not just for a better life for my family, but for a safer, healthier future for everyone.
That is why I care about education, because it opens doors. I care about the environment, because it keeps those doors from closing on entire communities. Those same convictions guided me toward a more intentional lifestyle: embracing veganism, cutting waste where I can, and choosing work that aligns with my values.
- Why I write: to make sense of the world and to leave useful breadcrumbs for anyone walking a similar path.
- Why I think unconventionally: because “how it’s always been done” rarely serves the most vulnerable. Lived experience taught me to challenge defaults.
- Why I explore: because ideas deserve fieldwork; I want to test them with real people, real places, real limits.
Today I am still that kid who believes small acts add up. A post can start a conversation. A workshop can spark a first internship. A policy can shield a river. I am building a life grounded in purpose, compassion, and possibility, and inviting others to do the same.
In many ways, I could say I am still a scavenger. Only now, I scavenge for practical ideas, mission-aligned people, and ultimately, a system that is built to last, not only for some, but for everyone.
