Isatou Ceesay The Queen of Recycling One Plastic Bag in Gambia

Isatou initiated a recycling project called One Plastic Bag in Gambia.

She noticed that the main streets of N’jau in Gambia were plagued with high piles of trash consisting of all forms from discarded plastics , tins, tyres, house waste and especially plastic bags were surrounded with puddles of water and malaria infected mosquitoes.

Isatou brought to life the idea of recycling plastic bags to make purses that could be sold for money. Plastic bags were collected, dried out and then torn into small yam like threads called ‘plam’. These threads would be weaved together to make small hand held bags, It took 10 plastic bags to make a bag.

Initially they were ridiculed but it worked. The money generated meant women living in poverty were now able to take care of their families.

N’jau Recycling and Income Generation Group (NRIGG) was born.

Today they recycle other waste to make jewelry, beads, armchairs, stools, even compost!

Today Isatou works with more than 11,000 people and NRIGG is based in 4 separate communities across The Gambia

She has travelled the world to share her story. Her village is now clean and tidy.

Sources
Wikipedia
Earth Heroes by Lily Dyu and Amy Blackwell