WasteAid says its latest project has improved livelihoods and reduced plastic pollution in Douala, Cameroon thanks to the generosity of the British public and match funding by the UK government.
The organisation says it is widening the Net UK Aid Match appeal, which was launched in May 2019 and was supported through donations made by the British public and match funding from the UK government.
WasteAid says that, despite Covid-19 posing great difficulties to the project’s delivery, it worked with local partner RED-PLAST to train 165 unemployed women and men in waste recovery solutions and problems posed by plastic waste.
WasteAid has also developed a productive relationship with the local council, whose staff supported the project, particularly its campaign to raise awareness among business owners and market stall holders to enable collection of their plastic waste for recycling.
As a result of implementing a more efficient and effective plastics collection and recycling system in the borough Douala III, over 17 tonnes of plastic were prevented from entering and polluting the ocean, which is the equivalent of more than 850,000 bottles.
We’re very grateful to those who supported our fundraising appeal in 2019 that enabled our work in Douala.
Trainees went on to collect nearly another 30 tonnes of plastic from local businesses. WasteAid says that employment was also secured for those in need of support, thanks to the funding.
When discussing the training, Julienne, a waste collector in Douala, shared her experiences following the training, said: “I am collecting plastic bottles to clean the environment, avoid clogging waterways and causing flooding and save the health of the community. This activity also helps me and my team to take care of ourselves and our families.”
WasteAid says that project participants expressed having greater confidence and transferable skills to access long-term job opportunities in and outside of the waste sector, with 74% of participants now employed as a result of the training and work experience.
Ceris Turner-Bailes, CEO of WasteAid, says: “We’re very grateful to those who supported our fundraising appeal in 2019 that enabled our work in Douala.
“We’re proud to have delivered an impactful programme that has improved the lives of many within the communities where we work through training and economic opportunity, whilst at the same time reducing plastic pollution within the Douala estuary.”