Have you ever thought about what happens to plastic bottles, old tires, and other waste materials after you throw them away? In Nigeria, more than 88% of plastic waste is not recycled, and many of these items end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans. This is where the African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub comes in.
The African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub is a social enterprise company with a mission to create a sustainable world without waste. They do this through education and upcycling waste into functional, durable, and affordable products. They are committed to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 17, which focus on ending poverty, promoting education, and protecting the environment.
One of the ways the African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub achieves its goals is by training women and children on organic backyard gardening using raised beds, old containers, old tires, plastic bottles, hydroponics, and vertical gardening in small spaces. Through this initiative, many families now grow their own backyard garden, leading to a healthier lifestyle.
The African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub also aims to fill the knowledge gap about waste and the value that can be derived from it. To achieve this, they plan to enlighten 2 million young people in proper waste management education by "catching them young." They have a vision of empowering 200,000 youths and widows with upcycling skills by 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
In 2021, the African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub received a grant of US$10K from USADF. With local technical support from Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI), USADF's Technical Partner in Nigeria, the African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub successfully set up and commissioned the Waste Museum. The museum showcases artworks made from waste materials, providing visitors with an opportunity to see how waste can be turned into art. The Waste Museum has been open to the public and generating revenue, with over 2,000 people trained in organic backyard gardening and sustainable waste management.
The Waste Museum has also become a popular destination for schools and institutions to visit for excursions. As of date, over 6,000 students and guests have visited the center, and the customer base has risen from 160 to 1,100. The African Creative Sustainable Synergy has displayed over 950 artworks made from waste at three galleries and the newly secured showroom in Ibadan.
In conclusion, the African Creative Sustainable Synergy Hub is doing great things for the environment, education, and poverty alleviation in Nigeria. Their approach to upcycling waste into functional products, empowering youths and women with upcycling skills, and providing education on proper waste management is impressive. The Waste Museum is a testament to their commitment to educating the public and generating revenue while making a positive impact on the environment.