How do you do it: The streets of Nairobi and its environs are littered with lots of garbage much of it in the form of polythene bags which is not being recycled. This initiative endeavors to engage up to 30 street children of age who will utilize this waste in stuffing rug dolls, pillows and cushions, making baskets, hats and other handmade articles which will be sold locally and internationally. Part of the proceeds of this enterprise will go towards running private tuition clinics for young street children who cannot fit in the formal school system and establishing talent discovery and development centers specializing in art, craft, dance, music and sports for gifted street children who will can then use their polished up talents to support themselves.

Innovation: This strategy is innovative because: (1) it allows the street children to earn their livelihoods from the street eventually helping them to get off the streets; (2) it allows ordinary citizens to help change the anti-social character of street children by purchasing their products; (3) it offers a solution to the garbage disposal headache in the city; (4) it utilizes peer education with beneficiaries giving practical lessons to their comrades; (5) it promotes alternative education and talent nurturing among street children thus transforming them from needy dependents to self-supporting individuals; and (6) it builds powerful role models for street children, the children of Nairobi and the adult population in general.

Impact: This strategy: (1) impacts positively on the rest of the street children by showing and teaching them on an alternative and better way of life in the streets; (2) it demonstrates to the city’s residents both old and young alike that street children are not vagabond persons who ought to be exterminated from the face of the city but rather individuals who can make a valuable contribution if given half the chance; (3) impacts on the consuming public on the possibility of learning and becoming better persons as well as on the importance of acting responsibly towards street children, those around them and the environment. The impact will be further strengthened through the use of media houses to increase the reach.

Ethical Action: Street children have often been mistreated right from their homes and even on the streets the reason being that they are an unwanted scourge. By demonstrating that they can make a positive and welcome change on the streets of the city, this initiative will hopefully trigger a change in the attitudes, perceptions and actions of society toward street children. On the other hand also, street children have in the past engaged in unethical actions, sometimes even violent crimes. These crimes against society have greatly contributed in making them a detestable lot. By showing the large population of street children that street life need not be violent and crime ridden, this initiative will hopefully catalyse positive change among street children.

Replication: This initiative will begin with a group of 30 as pioneer beneficiaries and one educational clinic with a capacity of 50 children as well as a talent nurturing center for 30 children. Each of the pioneer beneficiaries will within one year of participation be encouraged and supported to form a new group of 10 thereby reaching 300 in the polythene recycling enterprise. This pattern of geometric growth will be the primary mode of replicating this model in Nairobi. The initiative will document its successes and make them available via the web and other media for other local and international groups to emulate. The alternative education clinics and talent nurturing institutes will be a part and parcel of this exponential growth.

Sustainability: The initiative will involve the development and sell of a variety products made with recycled polythene as well as other waste materials for profit. These products will be high margin products thereby ensuring financial viability of the initiative in the near to long term. It is also expected that this initiative will receive support from the government which has in the past lacked a comprehensive policy on garbage disposal and street children. Attempts to relocate or transfer street children to homes have not borne much fruit and so have city clean up initiatives. The availability of plastic waste will also keep the initiative going for the next couple of years.

Position in the Ethics Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Fatalism

Principle: Enabling self-permission to change oneself or one'

Contact Information:
Name: Mr. James Mungai Kimani
Organization: James Mungai Kimani
Mailing address: P.O. BOX 28113-00200 NAIROBI KENYA
Country: Kenya
Email: jmungais@yahoo.com
Tel: CELL: 254-721-443128/254-735-640099
Fax: N/A
Website: N/A

Organization Size: Individual