Lemons Into Lemonade ~ Women Of Minyore

[Molly53]

The ladies collect plastic bags from the local garbage dump to make baskets and other art works for sale. Lucy Wambui is among the women and she holds a dozen of plastic bags. Some blue, black or printed in the affordable colors of a local supermarket.

It is just remarkable how these women have managed to create a business where others just see waste.

[Zurie]

Thank you for posting that, Molly.

Yes, also in South Africa women and children and using the environmentally polluting plastic bags to create bags and hats -- "knitting" or "weaving" plastics and magically turning the results into usable household items, also mats for wiping feet on.

Near where we live, in a Coloured/black area, we have a "childrens' haven" basically where kids are looked after while the parents work, where the children are rewarded for bringing bags of plastics and glass for recycling.

Many of us contribute towards a little "shop" where the kids can (after handing in their bags and being rewarded according to mass and weight) choose basic things to take home: 2 minute noodles, soaps, toothpaste, deodorants, school writing books, pens, tea, coffee, sugar ... etc.

It's working a treat.