A children's parliament protects an Indian lake
Children saw a way to stop their lake getting polluted - once they got organised. Jhumeliya Mishal from EFICOR tells the story.
James Desrosiers and Obed Arris started a business making products
from discarded plastic water sachets. Photo: Jack Wakefield/Tearfund
What challenges did you have and how did you overcome them? We encountered many challenges. Firstly, some people did not like the thought of wearing a product made from waste. Secondly, we had financing problems. Thirdly, we had little knowledge of what we were doing, in either the technical or administrative side of our work. Over time, we began awareness-raising campaigns through social media. We had to fundraise among family and friends to meet the company’s financial needs. With time, we have learnt how to do things better. And most importantly, we developed a desire to fill in the gaps in our knowledge, attending lots of seminars and reading many books. And we still have a lot to learn. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to develop a business using waste? We would tell them not to make backpacks, because we are already doing this! More seriously, we would tell them to organise their activities well, to plan their actions carefully to ensure they do not cause more harm than good to the environment, and to be assured that it is all worth it. What is your dream for the future? We are currently starting a new waste collection service to help solve the wider waste problems in Haiti. We dream of a cleaner environment and a country where everyone has the opportunity to work for companies like ours – companies that aim to provide solutions to the major problems facing the world. Contact details: Web: www.facebook.com/arrisdesrosiers17 Email: [email protected] Adapted from FOOTSTEPS 107, a magazine from Tearfund Learn providing practical information to bring about positive change. See https://learn.tearfund.org/en/resources/publications/footsteps/footsteps_101-110/footsteps_107/