Our project will build a care centre for informal recyclers who despite their massive contribution to society and globally are still marginalised, victimised and treated as pariahs in the very communities they service. Our focus is on Nyaope addicted recyclers, (Nyaope is a heroin based drug), who make up a large part of this sector and who have little to no access to healthcare services and who are shunned and abused even in the recycling industry they service.

Challenge

Addicts in every society find themselves judged but in the recycling space we are dealing with addicts who are actually contributing to bettering our earth/world and are being abused for it. People shun and look down on the work they do and at the buy back centres where they sell waste-products buyers know the addicts and pay them less than they do “normal recyclers”. At hospitals they are turned back and laughed at for being dirty and those wanting to quit the drugs do not know where or how.

Solution

At the centre we will be able to create a proper database of the addict recyclers and ensure that those needing HIV and/or TB medication and treatment receive it, many have those particular chronic illnesses and are not on any treatment. We will also be able to help those that want to go into rehab get into an in-patient treatment centre. Upon their return from the treatment centre we will ensure they have the necessary secondary care support as well as can earn themselves a decent living.

Long-Term Impact

In doing such work we will create awareness in communities about the value of recycling and the importance and value of the work of informal recyclers. Our poorer communities still do not understand much about Climate Change our landfill crises or much pertaining to “Green issues”. We will not only be addressing the issue of relapse prevention in our poorer communities but also creating and/or legitimizing employment opportunities in places which are in desperate need of such.