Malawi - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Lilongwe City has 280,000 tons of uncollected waste littering the city annually. At Clean Cities Project we do train economically disadvantaged youths the art of recycling plastics waste into jewelry, flower vases, wall hangings to reduce plastic waste

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

• The waste to art initiative aims to reduce plastic waste pollution, thin plastic, and paper waste by training economically disadvantaged youths in secondary school the art of recycling plastics waste into jewelry, flower vases, and wall hangings. • Beyond waste reduction, our broader vision is to empower students to lead eco-friendly lives and instill a climate-conscious mindset. The establishment of eco-green clubs within schools will not only serve as a platform for proper waste management and climate change awareness but will also be a cornerstone for skill-building and entrepreneurship. We will establish an art gallery where the art made by the students will be showcased and sold, this will support the economically disadvantaged youths financially. With the $5000 grant we won from the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the $1000 grant from Aspire Institute we have been able to kick start this initiative and worked with 150 secondary school students.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

• To begin with, the surge in waste generation in Lilongwe has reached critical proportions, surpassing 1000 tons daily, with a staggering 280,000 tons of solid waste uncollected annually in urban areas.This alarming reality, underscores the pressing environmental crisis exacerbated by insufficient collection rates and the absence of proper landfill and recycling facilities. • Furthermore, in Malawi, very little waste is recycled, when the waste is collected by city councils or waste collection companies, much of it ends up in landfills, where for example plastic waste can take up to 1,000 years to decompose. 80% of waste ends up in landfills or the natural environment, this is harmful to the environment as it pollutes the land, water, and air while putting people´s health at risk. For instance, due to poor waste management, Cholera was declared a Public Health Emergency. As of 2023, the nation had registered over 58,982 cumulative cholera cases and 1,768 total deaths.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

a) Reduction in plastic waste and improvement in waste management • Decrease plastic waste pollution by 80% in Lilongwe city through the conversion of thin plastic, plastic bottles and paper waste into art while holding stakeholders accountable for proper waste management b) Girls Empowerment in Waste Management and Sanitation • Empower and engage 1000 economically disadvantaged youths in 10 secondary schools by training and educating them in waste management, especially recycling plastic waste into jewelry, flower vases and wall hangings c) Financial Empowerment for economically disadvantaged girls • We will establish an art gallery, which will be a sustainable revenue stream for the economically disadvantaged youths through the sale of art pieces created from recycled plastic waste. Revenue will be generated through the art gallery sales, directly benefiting the youth and supporting their well-being

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

• Economically disadvantaged youths in secondary school, they will be trained on recycling, art and entrepreneurship. They will benefit from the proceeds of the art made from plastic waste • Secondary Schools, they will benefit from the Eco-green clubs which we will establish, thereby promoting sustainability and proper waste management on school grounds, and promoting increase student’s engagement, creativity, and community participation • Environment and Lilongwe City at large: Will benefit through reduced plastic waste pollution and proper waste management awareness

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

4

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Amos Benjamin, He hold a bachelors in Environmental health. He is an expert in waste management, environmental conservation and sanitation. He has worked with the United Nations, The World Federation of the United Nations Association (WFUNA). Menia Kaputa, She holds a bachelors in Business Information Systems (BIS), She is an expertise in business management and e-commerce. She has worked with the Harvard University-Aspire Institute as an Innovator. LLoyd Chunga, he holds a bachelors in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He is an expertise in Internet of things, networking, artificial intelligence, programming and software development. Yankho Juma, she holds a bachelors in Business Administration (Marketing). She is an expertise in public relations, marketing, sales, customer service, product development and market penetration

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://web.facebook.com/people/Clean-Cities-Project/100090854141568/

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Waste Management and Recycling

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Our project aims to empower the economically disadvantaged youth s financially by establishing the art gallery where the art pieces which students will make from plastic waste will be sold and the proceeds will go to the students. This will help in eradicating poverty and promoting the well-being of the economically disadvantaged students

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

4

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Through our initiative students will be trained and equipped with hands on education on recycling, environmental sustainability, and art. This will develop the student's learning capacity for the future.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

4

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

The initiative promotes sanitation and proper waste management through recycling. This means that the waste that was meant to end up in water sources such as rivers, lakes and oceans will be reused and this will help to keep the water sources safe and clean from plastic waste.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

3

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

The students will be empowered and equipped to produce art from waste which they can sell through the art gallery. This will promote entrepreneurship and self employment which promotes economic growth

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

6

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

The introduction of Eco green clubs at schools promotes proper waste management and environmental stewardship at school and community level. This promotes environmental responsibility and sustainability by city residents and communities

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

The waste to art initiative directly contributes to circular economy and promotes the reuse of resources to produce art thereby reducing the impact of waste on the environment. Additionally, through the awareness campaigns on the 4 Rs (Recycle, Reuse, Refuse, Re purpose and Reduce) of waste management will foster responsible consumption and production practices

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Through the Eco-Green Clubs, awareness campaigns will be conducted to train and engage students on Climate education, climate resilience and adaptation practices thereby promoting climate conscious communities

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

6

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

Reduction of plastic waste pollution will help to promote healthier oceans and marine environments

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

6

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

The negative impacts of waste on land environment will be minimized through proper waste management and reduced pollution

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

2

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

3

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

5

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

6

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

5

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

5

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

6

06.08 Justification for my startup

Our products, Jewelry, flower vases and wall hangings are unique since they are produced from discarded materials, waste such as plastic waste and paper waste. We are filling in an existing gap by solving environmental problems through art. Our products are competitive and customer centered while conserving the environment and achieving sustainability

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Art and Craft business, these are businesses that make normal or ordinary art. we stand out from them through our unique value proposition. our focus of using waste materials and empowering the economically disadvantaged youths sets us apart

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, we recruited women for key roles for our project and in all the schools we have gone we encourage female participation and the numbers have been balancing between all the genders