Algeco helps UNICEF with building schools in Ivory Coast
By recycling plastic, which is used to make building blocks for classrooms, we support UNICEF's education projects.
From plastic waste to a school building in Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast has a huge waste problem. The capital, Abidjan, produces 288,000 kilograms of plastic every day, which often ends up in landfills in poorer communities. The plastic also pollutes groundwater. Only five percent of the enormous amount of plastic waste in Côte d'Ivoire is reused, mainly by women and young people from the poorest communities. They collect waste and sell it on the black market. Women are underpaid and their own community treats them as misfits. In addition, they cannot afford to send their children to school. This is one of the reasons why two million children in Ivory Coast do not go to school.
What does PLASTIC BRICKS do?
UNICEF trains (young) mothers and young people in the collection, safe storage and processing of plastic waste. They also receive training in entrepreneurship so that they can set up their own companies. As a result, they learn to charge a fair price for recycling plastic and to do this with a direct customer. Currently, they receive 20 percent of the market price through black market intermediaries. In a fair situation they would receive 80 to 90 percent of the market price from a direct buyer. At the end of 2019, UNICEF opened a recycling plant in Youpougon. Here they buy the plastic waste directly from the women for a fair price. The factory processes the plastic waste into building blocks, which are used for the construction of new classrooms. By buying the waste directly, it no longer needs to be stored in communities. In this way we create a cleaner living environment and prevent deadly diseases for children.
Uitgangspunten
- Work and fair prizes for women
- Plastic garbage recycled to building systems
- More schools for children
- More available education for children
- Cleaner living environment
Project Plastic Bricks Ivory Coast
Why does Algeco support this project?
The cooperation with UNICEF is actually quite natural. We believe it is important to contribute to society. By joining UNICEF, we become part of a large organization that provides education to children on a global scale. As a modular builder of, among other things, educational buildings, we think it is important to also contribute to this in underprivileged areas. And as an employer, we think the development of children is very important. Growing up in an environment where you get opportunities will only make the world a better place in the end.
Supporting the 'Plastic Bricks' project not only stimulates education in Ivory Coast, but also works towards a better environment. By recycling into plastic building blocks, with which school classrooms are built. Currently, 1.6 million children in Ivory Coast are out of school. With our contribution, many children can go to school again. And that makes us proud.