FROM WASTE TO JOBS

Changemaker: Meseret Molla

Country of Implementation: Ethiopia

Environmental pollution caused by plastic bottles in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is a big, untackled, problem. Another challenge experienced by families in the city is needing children to drop out of school to work to support their families.

Global Changemaker Meseret is working with schools and local partners in an innovative community action project to address both these issues. From Waste To Jobs turns plastic waste into a business opportunity for the families of economically disadvantaged girls in two schools in the city. This project tackles environmental pollution, encourages recycling and reduces the need for the girls from the beneficiary families to drop out of school to work to support their families.

50 families were selected, trained and equipped to participate in the programme. Families collect, sort and sell plastic bottles to recycling companies - diversifying their income and gaining an additional source to support their families.

In the two first months of implementation the team was able to establish 5 collection points in the city and raise approximately 61,000 Ethiopian Birr for the participating family's (roughly 1,900USD) from the sale of the plastic bottle waste.

They also ran an awareness campaign to compliment the project which reached an estimated 5,500 people.