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Eco Echoes: Ugandan army wives recycling paper to support their families

mama kazi

We are living in an age where women no longer stay at home taking care of the family and the house. Today’s woman is a woman of substance, she walks with the world proving her potential. Exemplifying the same is a group of women, who not only pay their share to their families but also to the environment. This group of Ugandan army wives that make stuff by recycling paper is called “Mama Kazi“- a Swahili word meaning working woman.

These smart moms recycle things like books and magazines to transform them into beautiful green products. The eco-friendly handmade items range from jewelry to accessories to handmade décor. Charlotte Kainerugaba, the founder and sponsor of Mama Kazi, came up with this innovative idea and started the recycling work in July this year. She hired a trainer to enrich 200 women with skills of making table mats, blouses, seat cushions, handbags, files, hats wall hangings, curtains and money purses.

An estimated 10,000 tons of waste paper is generated per year from various organizations like the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB), institutions of higher learning and printing presses in Uganda. This waste paper is mostly burned or used for wrapping materials such as foodstuff, hence causing environmental hazards. In order to preserve the environment, Mama Kazi women treat the paper to make amazing items of their choice. The collected papers are treated by putting in a machine that cuts them into the defined shapes.

The group displayed their artwork at the trade fair this year to check the response of the visitors. Their main targets are designers, musicians, models, cultural groups and art lovers. These aspiring women hope to make good money to support their families.

Via: Daily Monitor

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