By Vivian Wacira | PR & Marketing
Started in 2016, Pirates Youth Group (PYG) is made up of 30 reformed criminals who offer waste management services, access to clean water and sanitary services to the community of Mlango Kubwa, Mathare. The group started out with over 100 members. They have many projects – raising pigs, a tree nursery, a hall they renovated and rent out, collecting and recycling of waste, providing washrooms and clean water – all in order to be self-sustaining. But they struggle with earning enough funds. PYG burn most un-sellable rubbish in open fires which releases harmful toxins in the air, and the dumpsite still has too much litter making it a potential environmental hazard which upsets the local residents.
The Community Cooker Foundation came across this amazing group through a waste management competition they won. We had been fundraising for over a year and thanks to you we were able to raise the required $22,997 to build them a Community Cooker. Using the Cooker to burn unwanted rubbish, the Pirates Youth Group will reduce the size of the dumpsite and keep the air clean. The Cooker will provide them with hot water, and they will hire out cooking time to local restaurants and community groups providing them with not only a cheaper way to cook but also a cleaner cooking space.
This project will help Pirates Youth Group to generate enough income to expand their centre and start a feeding programme for vulnerable children in their community. The land and air will be cleaner because of burning the unwanted waste within environmental emission standards. Their tree nursery will flourish as local residents will stop cutting down many of their trees for cooking fuel. A Community Cooker burns half a ton of rubbish a day and when operated for one year will save approximately 3000 mature trees! By them operating the Cooker as a restaurant too, it will help provide more sustainability for the group making them stray farther away from the life of crime.
We have been experiencing a slight hiccup in our project regarding land approvals. We are still in Phase 3 out of 7 of our project implementation plan which is getting the necessary approvals before moving forward. The process is taking much longer than expected, however we have hope that this issue will be resolved, then we can start construction. No one is more deserving than this amazing group of young men.
From the Community Cooker Foundation team, thank you for your continued support and patience!
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By Vivian Wacira | PR & Marketing
By Vivian Wacira | PR & Marketing
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