Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
5
Comments
Earning a living from waste |
|---|
|
by Mufaro Zibanai | 30-10-2019 19:36
|
|
People see things differently even we have eyes. Zimbabwean public meeting places are better known with much plastic drink bottles on ground and others view this as waste and others as revenue oppurtunity. Today I would like to write about those viewing waste as a source of income. Early in the morning, taking a look at the streets you can see dirty women, children and men carrying large sacks on their backs and picking up plastic bottles, bottle caps, drink cans and scrap metals. They are all heroes which we do not recognise and celebrate their presence. One day I visited my aunt's place and I learnt something that day. A Shona proverb, "chitsva chiri mutsoka" meaning you get to know new things by moving around. My cousin was wearing beautiful coloured head band but when she came closer I realised it was bought from any fancy shop but handmade from recycled sweet packaging plastics. She took it off and I had a picture of it as shown in the insert. She taught me on how to design and make them and it was not complicated as I thought. Looking more beautiful with cheap wrist bands, necklaces and head bands from cheap material, how brilliant is that? She went to show me how she decorated her room with those sweet packaging plastics and the room was beautiful. This triggers my mind into deep thinking and finding on what others are doing with waste material to have an income. Zimbabweans practice the art of sculpturing from a period dating The late Stone Age period as it quite seen on the Zimbabwean Bird a symbol of the nation which was sculpture of fish eagle found at Great Zimbabwe ruins. Advancement in technology replaced the traditional stone with metal in sculpturing activities. I bumped into an artist who practice sculpture and I asked him where he get his material for the sculptures after being impressed with his designs. The sculptor told me that he pick up scrap metal at dumpsites in towns, residential areas and industrial sites. The metal sculptor come up with creative ideas to make objects like birds, flowers, horses, cars, chickens, baboons. He usually get orders and revenue from tourists who are impressed with his works. Therefore cannot we say we are walking on top of money? Earning a living from waste, is that possible? Yes it is and it have many benefits to the society and the environment. The unemployment level in Zimbabwe is high but people are able to make a living from the recycling of waste into other products. The environment is clean as there is natural waste management due to the income associated with the waste. In my research of waste as a source of income I came across different activities undertaken by citizens to recycle the waste. Firstly picking up waste material like bottle tops, empty soft drinks and beer cans, empty plastic water bottles, cardboard boxes and scrap metal. In turn makes bins, baskets and bags for sale as shown in the insert. Secondly empty plastic containers of washing powder from Unilever Zimbabwe are used to make dresses, caps and bags which are also used as corporate gifts. Furthermore also recycles glass. Empty beer bottles is contribute to a large extent of the waste at public meeting places as beerhalls and entertainment activities. More people are into picking up empty beer bottles and cutting them using sisal fibre to make water glasses for sale. Affordable water glasses than shop bought water glasses. On conclusion we are all walking on top of money, throwing away money and seeing money and we go and look for money at the banks. It doesn't provide income only but recycling waste into artifacts have many benefits such as entertainment, beauty and environmental protection. Making the wrist bands as a family is great fun, with my cousin I had great fun in making her headband.
|
  
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : [Monthly report for oct]Fate o...
5 Comments
Hello Mufaro
It's very good to see the creative usage of the wastes in the streets. The point is, there is no single flaw in application of those wastes. I heard that economic situation in Zimbabwe is tough. And those kind of money circulation in local regions will be certainly big help both in environmental and economical aspect.
It was very good to see the report with your own story, not just delivery of some information.
I hope to read your next report.
Keep up the great work.
Posted 02-11-2019 23:21
Hello Mufaro
I do hope that you are fine and doing great with your works.
Thank you for your report about Earning a living from waste
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Regards,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 31-10-2019 21:26
Hey Mufaro!
This is your mentor Lisa:)
I just love your report, to be honest!
I think it's always important for us to write a report that is a true story of ours, and it seems that you have really told the story of your own experience!
In Korea, there are people usually the old persons who are unable to have any different jobs for earnings, they do earn a living through picking up waste and selling them just like in your country!
However, I have never thought of them in the frame of environmental agendas like you did here!
I think it's amazing how you have changed the paradigm of viewing these people.
Especially, I really love the sentence in the last paragraph, 'we are walking on top of money..'
Thanks for your contribution in Tunza community and I really look forward to your next report:)
Posted 31-10-2019 17:40
Hello mufaro
I hope you are well.
Very good step in Zimbabwe. Picture is also nice. I hope headband made is wonderful. I also wanted to try it. It just be amazing.
Thank you so much!
Green cheers
Regards
Asmita Gaire
Posted 31-10-2019 11:21
Hello Mufaro!!!
I hope you are fine and doing great.
Thank you for well written report.
Keep writing and shining .
Hope to know more from you.
Warm regards,
Meena
Posted 30-10-2019 19:54