Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
18
Project title
Youth for a Cleaner Community
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
I lead a youth-led project that brings young people and communities together to reduce plastic waste, promote environmental awareness and take practical action for cleaner communities through cleanups, education and community activities.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://linkedin.com/in/hanatu-abdulakeem-b22554261
Project Category
My project is an existing project that I started
Project Stage
Growth (We’ve moved past the very first activities and are beginning to have consistent weekly or monthly impact)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
My interest in this work started from seeing how plastic waste was affecting our communities. I saw plastic waste around streets and communities, while many young people wanted to contribute but did not always have the opportunity or platform to take action. Being part of Craft Planet from the beginning also showed me that young people can do more than just talk about environmental problems. I started taking part in community activities, working with volunteers, women and students, and helping to organize projects that encouraged people to take action. One moment that stood out to me was seeing how many young people were willing to join when they were given a clear role and a chance to contribute. That made me realize that the problem was not only the waste itself, but also the lack of opportunities for young people to be part of the solution. This became the motivation behind my project: to bring young people and communities together to take practical action on plastic waste and build cleaner communities.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
The main problem I am helping to solve is plastic waste and the lack of awareness and opportunities for young people to take part in solving environmental problems. I have seen how plastic waste affects our streets and communities. It blocks drainage, makes the environment unhealthy and adds to pollution. At the same time, I have seen many young people who want to help but do not always have the knowledge, support or opportunity to take action. This matters to me because I have been involved in environmental work for many years, even before we started Craft Planet. I have seen the problem closely and have also seen what happens when young people, women and communities are given the opportunity to be part of the solution. Through my project, I want to help more young people understand the problem, take practical action and encourage others in their communities to do the same. I believe young people should not only be seen as people affected by environmental problems, but also as part of the solution.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
My solution is to help young people and communities take practical action against plastic waste. I organize and lead activities that combine environmental education with real community action. We bring young people and volunteers together for clean-up activities, teach students and community members about plastic waste and recycling, and encourage them to take simple actions they can continue in their daily lives. I also work with women and young people to help them understand how waste can be collected, sorted and turned into something useful instead of being thrown away. Through projects such as World Cleanup Day, Green Women Champions and my Global Youth Mobilization project, I have worked with volunteers, students, women and community members to put these ideas into action. My goal is not only to clean a place for one day. I want to help young people understand that they can lead change in their own communities and encourage others to join them. By combining education, volunteer action and community involvement, the project creates a simple way for young people to become part of the solution.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
Through my work with Craft Planet and the projects I have led, I have seen how young people and communities can take action when they are given the opportunity. Our work has helped recover over **1,800 tonnes of plastic waste**, reached more than **4,000 community women**, and reached about **25,000 school students** through environmental and climate education. I have also led and coordinated activities involving more than **2,000 volunteers and team members** across different projects. Through activities such as World Cleanup Day, Green Women Champions and my Global Youth Mobilization project, I have worked directly with women, students, young people and communities. The impact I care about is not only the amount of waste collected. I want more young people to gain the confidence and skills to lead action in their own communities. I have seen that when young people are trusted with responsibility, they can bring others together and create real change.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
What makes my project different is that it does not only focus on cleaning up plastic waste. It focuses on giving young people an active role in solving the problem. I bring young people and volunteers together, give them practical roles, and combine environmental education with real community action. Instead of only teaching people about plastic pollution, we take them into communities and schools to clean up, educate others and encourage them to take action themselves. Another part of my approach is connecting environmental action with opportunities for women and young people. Through our work, people can learn about waste collection, recycling and how waste can have value instead of being thrown away. I have seen that many young people want to help but need someone to give them the opportunity and trust them with responsibility. My project creates that opportunity. It turns young people from people who are only affected by environmental problems into people who can lead solutions in their own communities.
How many people are on your team?
5
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
I work with Kabir Olaosebikan, research and developement manager of Craft Planet, who supports strategy and project direction, and Bushrah Abdulazeez, who supports community engagement. I lead project planning, communication and coordination, while our volunteers support outreach, education and clean-up activities. I give team members clear roles and encourage them to take the lead in areas they are confident in.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next year, I want to reach more young people, schools and communities with environmental education and practical activities. I plan to organize more clean-up activities, train young volunteers and give them opportunities to lead activities in their own communities. I also want to strengthen partnerships with schools, community groups and organizations working on environmental issues. This will help us reach more people and make the project more sustainable. Another goal is to document our activities and impact better, so we can understand what works and improve our approach. I also want to use what I learn to help more young people see that they can take action and lead change in their communities.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
I encourage people to join by making environmental action simple, practical and open to everyone. Through clean-up activities, school programmes and community projects, I invite young people, students, women and volunteers to take part and give them clear roles. So far, I have helped engage and coordinate more than **2,000 volunteers and team members** across different projects. They have taken part in clean-ups, environmental education, community outreach and waste collection activities. I also encourage people by giving them the chance to lead. When volunteers are trusted with responsibilities, they become more confident and are more likely to encourage others to join. Going forward, I want to reach more schools and communities, train more young volunteers and create more opportunities for them to lead environmental activities in their own communities.
