Transforming Trash Into Cash
With imagination and innovation, high school students in rural East Africa are turning discarded plastic into fantastic works of art. As participants in Asante Africa Foundation’s Youth Livelihood Program, these young adults have been learning about leadership and entrepreneurship. Their first project, an income-generating garden business, was a success that inspired the students to think of other ways that they could make a positive impact in their community.
The students shared great concern for the plastic litter issue that is having a major environmental impact in Uganda. In 2009, the government first banned plastic bags but the impact was negligible. Later, in 2021, Uganda joined the UN Environment Programme’s Clean Seas Campaign to prioritize minimizing plastic that works its way into the ocean. Despite the country’s good intentions to protect the environment from harmful plastic waste, plastic littering remains a significant problem.
These hopeful, high school students decided that they could use the planning, budgeting, and digital skills they learned in the Youth Livelihood Program to start a business venture that would both help the environment at a local level and serve as an income-generating venture. United by a collective spirit, they embraced the path of recycling and decorating, giving rise to the ‘Together as One Initiative.’ They developed a business plan and raised 610,000 shillings (approximately $160 USD) to launch their business. Technology became their ally as they leveraged online platforms like Jiji Uganda for pricing strategies. Expanding their reach beyond local boundaries, they created a YouTube channel (‘Together as One’) and a TikTok account (‘TheNextBigThing1’) to showcase the artwork they had created to sell.
For almost two months, the students have worked to successfully produce various items of reclaimed-plastic artwork, including aquariums, water fountains, vases, bowls, and key holders. November 2023, marks the official launch of their business, with anticipated sales of 2,070,000 shillings (approximately $550 USD) and a projected profit of 1,492,000 shillings (approximately $390 USD).
The students possess a vision that extends beyond mere entrepreneurship. They aim to empower their community further by donating their business profits for the purchase of a charcoal briquette-making machine to address their village’s cooking needs sustainably. Additionally, they have pledged to use a portion of their earnings to pay school fees for a team member who overcame early marriage, exemplifying their unwavering commitment to education. Through their incredible ambition, and the skills they learned as participants in the Youth Livelihood program, these students are proudly making a difference in their own lives as well as in the lives of those in their village.
