Provide income to 250youth by recycling inTanzania

1. Introduction

Dear Donors and Stakeholders,

Warm greetings from Tanzania. On behalf of our entire team, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for your continued support toward our initiative to combat plastic pollution while empowering youth and women with sustainable employment opportunities. Your generosity and commitment have made it possible for us to move steadily toward our goals.

This report provides an overview of our progress since our last update in March 2024. We are pleased to report meaningful advancements in the areas of youth engagement, plastic waste collection, coalition-building, and preparatory work for plastic waste collection centers.

2. Key Progress Achievements (March – June 2025)2.1 Plastic Waste Collection

• Between March and June 2025, we collected an additional 1,030 kilograms of plastic waste, bringing the cumulative total to over 3,200 kilograms since the start of the project.
• Waste is sorted and temporarily stored before being transported for recycling, significantly reducing environmental pollution in the project areas.
• We have successfully added two new groups: one women’s group and one youth group, meeting our original target of forming six community-based groups.
• Current active groups include:

2.2 Community Mobilization

o    Wamama wa Mboga Saba

o    Effort Group

o    Upendo Group

o    Vijana Watiifu Group

o    Nguvu ya Mama Group (new)

o    Green Future Youth Group (new)

2.3 Coalition Development

• The JEMANT Group, our coalition of seven NGOs, remains actively involved in community sensitization, advocacy, and technical support.
• The TCPN Consortium continues to engage key stakeholders on environmental issues, helping amplify our message across a broader network of local actors and policy influencers.
• Conducted three community awareness campaigns in Mwanza and surrounding regions.
• Trained all six groups on plastic waste handling, sorting, and health and safety standards, with a focus on personal protection and environmental conservation.

2.4 Awareness & Training Activities

3. Establishment of Collection Centers

We are now in the advanced stage of establishing the six targeted plastic waste collection centers—one for each group. These centers will serve as:

• Drop-off points for plastic waste
• Sites for weighing and temporary storage
• Safe hubs for community recycling education

Challenges:

• Funding gaps remain, especially for renting premises, fencing, and purchasing necessary tools and safety gear.

4. Immediate Equipment and Financial Needs

To ensure full operational readiness of the collection centers, the following items are urgently needed:

To fully operationalize the six plastic waste collection centers, we require a total estimated budget of TSh 21,000,000, equivalent to approximately USD 7,500 (at an exchange rate of TSh 2,800 per USD). The budget includes several essential items: 300 pairs of heavy-duty gloves at a cost of TSh 3,000,000 (USD 1,071) to ensure the safety of waste handlers; 12 spring balances costing TSh 2,400,000 (USD 857) for accurate waste measurement; and 120 sorting bags valued at TSh 1,800,000 (USD 643) for storage and transport. Additionally, we need to cover six months of rental fees for six collection sites, amounting to TSh 7,200,000 (USD 2,571). For secure and organized storage, six units of fencing are required at TSh 5,400,000 (USD 1,929), along with six sets of safety signage estimated at TSh 1,200,000 (USD 429) to guide proper use and promote awareness at each site. These resources are vital to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable operations as we move forward in fighting plastic pollution and empowering Tanzanian youth through recycling. We continue to depend on your support and kindly appeal to donors to consider recurring monthly donations or sharing our campaign with friends, colleagues, or partner institutions.

5. Next Steps and Outlook

• Complete setup of all six collection centers by August 2025
• Begin regular operations of waste collection and delivery to recyclers
• Expand outreach to nearby communities and schools for awareness programs
• Start income-generating activities through recycled product creation in partnership with local artisans

6. Conclusion

This journey would not be possible without your trust and partnership. Together, we are building a cleaner, healthier Tanzania while equipping our youth and women with dignified, green jobs. We ask for your continued support—financial, moral, and technical—as we push this project to its next phase.

Please continue to share our cause with your networks and consider increasing your support if possible. Every contribution counts.