BY JOY OFASIA
YOUNG Women Christian Association (YWCA) has recognized the importance and opportunities for its members to protect the environment by turning waste into useful products.
Women and young girls have now work on cycling paper and fabric, and they are very passionate about learning a new trade. It is a meaningful practice that enables women to contribute to saving the environment.
As a source of income, the women members of the Association have decided to invest in waste upcycling. Women have transforming plastic waste into useful products and helping prevent short-lived climate pollutant emissions from the open burning of plastic.
YWCA General Secretary Jocelyn Lai said YWCA members have undergone training on upcycling and creative waste management practices since 2010.
“The initiative is also providing livelihoods, with a special focus on women’s empowerment, by training our members in upcycling (the process of transforming waste into more valuable commodities). The women learned how to produce crafts from waste, such as turning bags into pillows, old clothes and rugs into doormats, papers into necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, and also turning empty old containers and bottles to flower vase and many other little usable products.
“This initiative can increase incomes for members and further reduces waste to landfill in Honiara, Jocelyn Lai said.
The Association recently become a member of the newly established – Solomon Islands Recycling Waste Management Association (SIRWMA).
The new Association’s new strategic plan aims to campaign on the commercial and industrial wastes generated from the private and business sectors in the Capital City. Whilst the members of the Association consisted of local recyclers and waste generators from the private and business sector in Honiara.
Jocelyn Lai said the Association is very proud to be a member of the SIRWMA.
“We are happy to be part of this unique group with the passion to protect the environment and help out together to manage the current waste situation in Honiara,” Jocelyn said.
Jocelyn said that it is important to work together. She urges all women and girls out there to work together to start managing our wastes at home.
“Women can start waste management and recycling process at our homes and by doing this very simple recycling methods, we are contributing to the process of waste management in little ways in our town,” Jocelyn said.
