The Green Africa Youth Organization, co-founded by Lisa Abdellah and Joshua Amponsem, aims to address Ghana’s waste crisis through community education and innovative practices. The organization promotes a zero-waste lifestyle, implements management models in various regions, and empowers youth through initiatives like the African Climate Change Innovation Challenge. Their work has gained recognition, including discussions with Prince William, aiming for broader regional impact.
The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), co-founded by Lisa Abdellah and Joshua Amponsem, emerged from a shared desire to address environmental concerns in Ghana. Originating from rural experiences with waste management, they witnessed the devastating impact of improper waste disposal in urban settings. The organization specifically seeks to implement practical climate solutions through community engagement and education, particularly in significantly affected areas such as Cape Coast and Accra.
Initially, GAYO undertook beach clean-ups to raise awareness among fishermen, guiding them to avoid pollution by disposing of waste properly. Subsequently, they introduced initiatives promoting a zero-waste lifestyle, urging communities to rethink consumption and waste separation. Unfortunately, infrastructural inadequacies hampered their efforts, as sorted waste was still dumped together.
To counteract these issues, GAYO piloted a Zero Waste Management Model in New Edubiase, fostering educational programs that emphasized disaster risk reduction. By involving students in waste segregation practices, the organization created a sustainable demonstration farm that sourced food from composted materials, shared products generated from recycling, and inspired similar projects in other schools.
Furthermore, GAYO incentivized households to separate waste by providing designated bins and establishing buy-back centers. These centers compensated waste collectors for recyclable materials, which were then sold to various industries. The organization focuses on youth empowerment, fostering innovative environmental solutions across Africa through initiatives such as the African Climate Change Innovation Challenge.
Their efforts have garnered attention, including an engagement with Prince William during the Earthshot Awards, where they discussed expanding their initiative more broadly into regions across Ghana, Botswana, and Uganda. GAYO’s commitment to tackling waste challenges positions them as proactive leaders in the fight against environmental degradation in Ghana.
The Green Africa Youth Organization exemplifies proactive community engagement addressing critical environmental issues in Ghana. Through education, practical initiatives, and infrastructure development, GAYO is effecting positive changes in local waste management practices. Their innovative approaches, combined with international recognition, pave the way for broader sustainable impact across Africa, showcasing the importance of youth-led movements in combating climate-related challenges.
Original Source: www.getaway.co.za
