AYWN

Meet Our First Youth Committee

The African Youth Waste Network (AYWN), a programme of Sustainable Seas Trust, established its first Youth Committee in August 2020!

The Eastern Cape committee, consisting of eight young, talented and vibrant women from different fields of study and background, was developed to give the youth of Nelson Mandela Bay the opportunity to work together for a common cause: Towards Zero Plastics to the Seas of Africa.

“I believe that the launch of this committee is an exciting first step in involving the youth of Africa in the fight against plastic pollution,” says AYWN Committee Coordinator, Adelaide Musemesi. “We are looking forward to seeing this committee take action within Eastern Cape communities.”

On the 11th of November 2020, the Eastern Cape Committee held its inaugural meeting in Port Elizabeth. The meeting was held to discuss the committee’s mission, expectations, and how to best reach and involve the Eastern Cape’s youth.

The young members also shared different project ideas they would like to implement as well as the different issues surrounding the youth and plastic pollution.

“Africa has some of the most exquisite, biodiverse and marine rich coastlines in the world and the youth have the power, energy and unique ideas to conserve these resources for a sustainable future,” says Sustainable Seas Trust CEO and Founding Trustee, Dr Tony Ribbink.

Meet our eight Eastern Cape Committee members:

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Laricha Taljaard – Chairperson

“My name is Laricha Taljaard and I am from Uitenhage. I am currently in my fourth year of Law at Nelson Mandela University. My goal is to eventually practice in the Law of the Sea field. Keeping our environment safe is something I feel very passionate about. It breaks my heart whenever I walk along our shore and see the pollution caused by us and how we are destroying our planet. I would therefore like to start making a change and raising awareness about plastic pollution.”

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Shamiso Banda – Deputy Chairperson

“My name is Shamiso Banda and I am currently an MSc Zoology student at Nelson Mandela University. I have been in the natural science field for over 5 years now, and a passion for protecting the natural environment was inspired long before that. I have been part of the Green Campus Initiative since 2015 and have participated in various environmental campaigns and beach clean-ups, including the SST clean-up. I also gave a public talk on Climate Change at Bayworld last year, to increase public awareness of the issues facing the world today and how we can all be a part of the solution. Needless to say, I strongly believe in the power of collective effort, and that is why I want to be a part of the AYWN committee and to be in the frontlines of the battle against plastic pollution.”

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Sixolile Mazwane – Education Coordinator

“I am a second-year PhD student at the Nelson Mandela University, doing biological oceanography. The area that I live in is full of plastic, with people throwing rubbish on the street almost every day. This has become a habit to the people, and they see no shame in what they do. It saddens me; therefore I would like to help in any way I can to make our environment clean and to educate more people on the matter.”

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Saudiqa Benjamin – Events Coordinator

“My name is Saudiqa Benjamin and I am studying a BSc in Environmental Science. Throughout my life I have been drawn to nature and as I went about my years of schooling, I further developed my love and drive for protecting, promoting, and preserving the environment. I have been involved in numerous volunteer projects and initiatives. This is one of the key reasons I started an initiative organisation called Greener Times with my co-partner, aimed at promoting environmental awareness and conservation. I wanted to be part of the AYWN committee as I am an individual prepared to take on the challenge, to further educate myself and others about the importance of protecting our oceans and essentially to be part of a bigger, brighter change.”

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Usanda Samela – Secretary

“I am Usanda Samela, a National Diploma in Marketing Management graduate. Coming from a township, many people are not fully aware about environmental issues and the effects it has on our ecosystem. They also do not know how to recycle their used materials. As a member of the committee, I will bring that aspect into realisation and focus on such communities to equip them with joining the “greening bandwagon” and keep their communities clean.”

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Asithandile Ntsondwa – Committee Member

“I am a third-year student studying BSc (Environmental Sciences) at Nelson Mandela University. I am an environmental activist, a co-founder of Greener Times initiative and a youth policy committee member at the South African Institute of International Affairs. I am always looking for new ways to add my contribution in helping Mother Nature heal.”

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Olayide Fisayo Olajuyin – Committee Member

“I am Olayide Fisayo Olajuyin and I am a PhD candidate in the Development Studies department at the Nelson Mandela University. Considering the aim of the AYWN is to find relevant solutions to Africa’s plastic pollution problems, research and strategic communication of findings are key skills needed for this project. I believe my background skills and years of experience in social science research, communications and facilitation will make me a valuable committee member for the AYWN. I believe the sustainability of any project lies in the hands of young people who can drive the agenda into the future.”

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Sara Gopal – Committee Member

“My name is Sara Gopal and I am a grade 11 student at Riebeek College Girls’ High School in Uitenhage. I use my positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others in my community to be more environmentally conscious.”

 

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This category includes various tiers of governance responsible for policymaking, implementation, and oversight. It comprises:

  • National government, which governs at the highest level of a state,
  • Provincial/Regional authorities that manage sub-national jurisdictions,
  • Local municipalities with elected community representatives for a specific country or district, and
  • Government agencies or institutions, such as environmental departments or authorities, that implement mandates in specific sectors or fields of study.

These are entities formed through collaboration between multiple countries or states to address regional or international concerns. These include:

  • International multilateral organisations created by treaties between two or more nations working towards issues of common interest
  • Regional Economic Bodies that facilitate economic integration in specific African regions,
  • River Basin Commissions managing shared water resources, and
  • Regional Conventions, which are legally binding agreements among states in a region to promote and help localised international standards.

This category includes institutions and academic bodies that generate scientific knowledge and conduct studies related to marine, environmental, or plastic pollution issues. It includes:

  • Research institutes, which are to establish to conduct research
  • Universities, which combine education and academic research at an advanced level.

This category encompasses learning institutions and youth-focused networks that promote environmental awareness and leadership. It includes:

  • Schools for formal education of children
  • Youth networks that represent young people between the ages of 7 and 35, and
  • Youth groups, communities and associations which are informal or formal and focused on empowering youth.

Civil society includes non-state, nonprofit groups active in advocacy, service delivery, or community development. Subcategories include:

  • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating independently from government,
  • Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) committed to specific social or environmental causes,
  • Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) embedded in and serving local communities or significant segments,
  • Charity Groups focusing on philanthropy and social well-being, and
  • Facilitation Agencies that coordinate or distribute services among approved charitable, non-profit making preferred sources.

This sector represents the structured business actors in the plastic value chain, from production to retail. It includes:

  • Importers (such as a country, business or person) buy raw materials or products from another country for use in their own country.
  • Raw material producers provide materials for converters and manufacturers and can include virgin or recycled materials.
  • Converters blending materials (virgin or recyclate) and additives into formulated feedstock.
  • Brand owners who are the owners of a product or service, and retailers, such as FMCG companies that distribute goods.

These are organised and legally recognised entities involved in the collection, processing, and sorting of waste. Types include:

  • Waste logistics companies responsible for transporting and collecting waste and material recovery facilities,
  • Waste processors/recyclers are large scale entities that process waste into secondary raw materials or products,
  • Buy-back centres where recyclables are exchanged for money, and
  • Drop-off sites where recyclables are deposited for disposal or further processing.

This category consists of non-formalised individuals or groups engaged in waste collection and recycling, often for income. It includes:

  • Waste pickers, who collect reusable and recyclable materials independently to either sell on or use for personal consumption,
  • Cooperatives, collectively run collection operation,
  • Informal sector associations that support and represent the informal sector.

This category includes collaborative platforms and representative bodies that promote sector-wide coordination. It consists of:

  • FMCG associations working with brand owners and retailers in circularity,
  • Plastic industry associations represent the entire value chain of plastics, regionally or nationally to drive innovation, technology, and policy,
  • Pacts and networks foster joint commitments and agreements through group or connected systems,
  • Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) are collecting entities set up by the obliged companies or legislation, responsible for waste-related obligations of the obliged companies and assisting with managing collective waste obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.

This category includes organisations and groups that actively work to protect natural ecosystems and biodiversity, both on land and at sea. It encompasses:

  • Environmental organizations/groups that seek to protect, analyse or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation from human forces,
  • Nature reserves are tract of land managed for the preservation of its flora, fauna and physical features,
  • Marine conservation organizations focusing on ocean ecosystems, and
  • Clean-up groups engaging in direct action to clean up the environment.

This category refers to entities specializing in the manufacturing, filling and selling bottles containing products such as water, beverages, and cleaning agents for commercial distribution. Bottlers are typically part of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry and play a significant role in the packaging value chain. They may:

  • Work independently or be linked to brand owners,
  • Rely on imported or locally produced containers,
  • Have obligations under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes to manage their post-consumer waste.

This category includes designated locations where waste is deposited, buried, or left in open land. These sights are typically government owned and operated. It consists of:

  • Formal landfill sites, which are engineered and monitored for environmental compliance,
  • These sites are critical points in the waste management system, affecting land use, pollution levels, and the recovery potential of materials,
  • They are often connected to both the formal waste sector (e.g., municipal services) and informal waste collectors who retrieve recyclables from them.