Environmental Entrepreneurship for a Sustainable Future

As a highschool student from Uganda, Victoria resolved to not only overcome her circumstances but also solve an issue that troubles her community. Born into a family of six, headed by her single mother, Victoria’s welfare became a dual struggle for environmental sustainability and financial stability. Yet, through pure resilience, Victoria found herself able to find a solution that allows her to answer both of her issues at once.

For local Ugandan communities, deforestation is a major issue because of the scarcity and the inability for the resource to quickly replenish. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has projected that all of Uganda’s forested areas will be gone by 2050 if the current rate of deforestation continues. This resource however, is a necessity- adding complexity when addressing counter measures. Alternative energy sources are incredibly expensive, however, communities can also not afford to deplete their resources.

To be able to find her solution, Victoria’s education was an essential driving force that allowed her to innovate and execute; for this reason, she joined Asante Africa Foundation’s Youth Livelihood Program. The program allowed her to acquire financial and business skills like budgeting, fundraising, and leadership all with the purpose of uplifting and empowering young entrepreneurs like Victoria. 

With her foundational skills, Victoria and her peers sought to create environmental change by recycling plastic bottles. In collaboration, they formed “Together as One Company,” a group of other motivated individuals with the mutual goal of environmental stewardship and community empowerment.

The team went out to collect plastics wherever they could. These plastics were stray pieces littered on the streets or donated pieces. The recycling of these plastics required great innovation and creativity; plastics were turned into items like key holders, flower vases, bowls and fountains that could be sold with the ultimate goal of purchasing a briquette maker. Using briquettes directly impacts conservation efforts by providing more energy from the use of recycled biomaterial and generation of less pollution than standard charcoal. 

This ambitious project did not come without hurdles. With limited accessibility to resources, Together as One Company turned to the community to crowdfund their efforts. This is where Victoria, and her team, learned the power of community and collaboration. Educating those from their school and neighboring communities prompted cooperation that allowed the team to be successful. 

“This project inspired us to be committed and work hard as a team,” Victoria reflects on her project.

Victoria and her partners became catalysts for change, inspiring their community to find innovative ways to solve issues as their project made their community rethink waste to conserve their environment. As Together as One Company’s sustainability journey continues, they leave behind a trail of resilience, collaboration, and the belief that, given the right educational resources and support, anyone can create the future they desire.