Reprinted from Plastik Rafiki
Through a collaboration between Plastiki Rafiki, the International Office of Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) Youth and Livelihoods Unit, the “One Stop Mathare Environmental Conservation Youth Group (MECYG)” recently received Plastiki Rafiki injection and extrusion molding machines in order to process collected plastic waste into new products. Following the delivery of the machines, we conducted a 3 day plastic recycling training session at the location, focusing on machine use and maintenance. Following this workshop, we plan to hold a remote design thinking session together with ISK design students to brainstorm possible products that the group can produce using the new machines.
For over 20 years, MECYG has fought to bring opportunities to their community through waste management, youth development and rehabilitating public spaces. Young people are supported to engage with the community and create leadership roles which help address priority issues facing the 50,000+ residents of Mlango Kubwa. The One Stop MECYG workshop is our second workshop in Mathare which we hope will follow in the footsteps of our Futbol Mas workshop and continue to provide much needed income and employment while also cleaning up the local environment. With an already established system of plastic waste collection and sorting, the group should be able to hit the ground running. Watch this space as we work together to clean up Mathare and turn discarded plastic into cool products!
