Fatuma 20, is a climate change advocate. She is a member of a youth group in the suburb of Kampala where she lives. She and other youths are managing waste to save the environment in the city’s dense urban neighbourhood through briquette making.
Fatuma and other youth turn waste into echo friendly briquettes
Fatuma and 20 other young people are working to address climate change challenges in Kampala’s dense urban neighborhoods. They are making eco briquettes from waste that is normally littered within their communities. Fatuma explains that the youth group collects garbage from the community and after decomposing it, makes briquettes out of the waste.
“We sort and recycle waste like used banana leaves, food leftovers and decompose them from which we are able to make the product,” explains Fatuma. She adds that sorting and recycling waste has enabled the youth to make briquettes. “Briquettes are eco-friendly and provide an alternative source of energy that reduces dependence on charcoal and ultimately combating deforestation.”
More girls join the move to save environment
Fatuma says her courage to remain focused on briquette making has attracted other girls to join the group. At first her peers saw this as a skill done by men. “I stood my ground and continued to do it.” She adds that after seeing the change done in community, the number of girls that has joined the group has grown. “Girls no longer feel ashamed to make briquettes, we actually enjoy what we are doing.”
“I stood my ground and continued to do briquettes.”
Fatuma
Fatuma pays her tuition fees through briquette making
Besides saving the environment, Fatuma and other youths are making a living through briquettes making. “We make about 1200 briquettes per week and sell them to the community,” shares Fatuma. On a monthly basis each member saves 160,000 shillings out of sales. This income supports Fatuma, who is currently a student at one of the public universities, to pay for her tuition fees and other personal basic needs like clothes, sanitary pads, health as well taking care of her family. “Making briquettes has helped us save the environment and to become self-employed. The demand from the community is high plus other places where we distribute the products in restaurants and schools,” she explains.
About the project
Plan International Uganda with support from DANIDA is implementing a 2-year project called Youth Climate Action Accelerator project with the overall goal of addressing climate vulnerabilities in cities that recognise youth-led organisations as key partners in creating green, resilient and inclusive cities.
The project uses the key approach of working with youth led organisations involved in climate change initiatives, by supporting them with booster grants to accelerate their climate change activities. “The project trained us in waste sorting and recycling,” shares Fatuma.
Abert Nagaba, Project Coordinator, Youth Climate Action Accelerator says, “16 youth led organisations in informal sectors of Nakawa, Kawempe and Central divisions have been supported with booster grants to accelerate their climate change initiatives through waste management and urban farming among others. More than 60 youth have increased their income as a result of the booster grant and the training received.”
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