Conserve natural resources by turning Waste Paper materials into source of income and help to tackle climate change
Dear Friends
I’m writing to you and kindly appeal to you to support my paper materials recycling effort in protecting this innocent green earth. Your support; however much or small it is will fulfill my vision’ of seeing all discarded paper materials worth something in their entire life cycle.
My name is Cyriacus Mababu from Tanzania. I am currently working as a volunteer at NPHAECOT community based organization and periodically help out youth at Kagera Youth Forum orgaization in Bukoba town. The CBO develop skills to small income generating groups on health especially nutrition, life saving skills, income, sanitation and environment conservation.
My project is about creating another alternative by using recycled paper materials to make wall décor, Art and Crafts, farmers’ grain containers, clothes baskets, indoor and office containers, snacks trays, trash baskets, garden box planters, Report note holders and flower vessels. All those have been designed and prototype is in place. The market demand is massive.
Recycling reduces the need for extracting, refining and processing raw materials all of which create air and water pollution. As recycling saves energy it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to tackle climate change
My project goal is $1,800. My project is going to start with one secondary school (grade 6 to grade 7 representatives) and one youth and artists Income generating Group in the area. On the first phase,these two groups will be trained on the environmental Impacts especially when it comes gas emissions, air pollution and how to help to tackle climate change in our area. So 30% of this fund will be spent on training two groups. And 70% of the funds will go to Practical training and implementation including collecting paper materials from schools, public and government facilities, institutions, buying required equipment and working gears and consultation from District environmental department. After making materials out of recycled papers, participants will be involved in going out to do demonstration and selling their art work in different public spaces, government offices and institutions while raising awareness on environmental and resource conservation. This will help participants gain alternative skills and be able to train neighboring schools, communities and sustain their future projects regarding environmental matters.
East Africa, unlike many global developing communities is among countries which has insignificant recycling alternative, when it comes discarded paper materials usage. Recycling in East Africa is very minimal. Apart from being used in newspaper making, TP, Boxes, disposable and utensils, the key alternative has always been burning out materials. In many areas in these countries, you will find education institutions, hospitals, religious institutions, industries, public offices and households burning all discarded materials throughout the year. This is not a joke.
Tanzania has over 9,000,000 million households, over 3,100 health institutions, over 4,500 schools and colleges. They all have garbage pits and all burn discarded paper materials almost one to two times a week depending upon the size of institution and duties performed. All these recycled papers and plastic materials are lost for no reasons while destructing environment. Can you imagine how much smoke goes into the air for just a single year?
Mean while, Kyerwa district has over 830 institutions including primary and secondary schools, health centers, public offices, office and school materials suppliers, wholesale and retail shops, pharmacies, and local tea and coffee shops. This statistics is excluding households in the district. The average discarded papers materials in the district per institution is 1.3 kg per day,over all institutions per day is 1.079 tons , 7.63 tones per week, 30.52 tons per month and 366.24 tons a year. All these tons are burnt out hence increasing gas emissions.
Recycling one ton of paper can save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,000 kilowatts of energy enough to power the average U.S. home for six months and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE).
I have already done the prototype and it is already in place. The project will actively involve Kyerwa district youth and Artists learn on how to protect environment while creating their source of income and exploiting fully their skills through recycling business. It is an opportunity to create more jobs in the community.
The most significant benefits and outcome of this project is that youth and artists will have acquired good knowledge and skills on natural resource conservation, reduction of gas emissions, keeping landfill and most importantly learning how they can generate income from trashes they once considered as useless materials.
Project Sustainability
The project has a trustworthy sustainability since there is a good demand for all product materials that will be made. It will be able to run on its own after the first stage taking off. Products made will be sold all year long domestically and internationally. It will use its products to create environmental awareness hence conducting fundraising. Attending and conducting environmental conservation exhibitions, using online marketing and products export for internal and external markets. However the project shall invest in more innovation on different recycled paper usages to suit and appeal to diverse market demands.
My journey of Environmental protection started in 2002 through 2004 in Beatrice town, Gage County, Nebraska when I used to volunteer together with my SCC college mate to keep the Beatrice city clean for 2 years consecutively. We used to collect all kind of trash thrown along roadsides.
I want to challenge this in Tanzania. For those with a good vision to save this innocent Earth help me to fulfill my dream on this first phase of collecting required materials and do more intensive research on the project.
Thank you in advance for your contribution. Your donation will go towards contributing to the natural resource conservation, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop school children skill on conservation, and keep landfill space free for other types of trash that cannot be recycled.
Email: kyaruzi4mababu@gmail.com.Tel:+255 787 431 103
