Village Pollution

2023Climate Change & Environment

Apr 25

Egypt | Clean Countryside-Naway Shifters | 2023

Salaam Alaikku!

We are Clean Countryside-Naway Shifters, a group of young vibrant girls who want to make our village clean and distinct. Our village houses many public facilities, providing services to 9 neighboring villages and about 4 small manors.

17 - 25 years old
Naway

The Right-Sized Problem

Our village of Naway, along with our neighbors, faces a challenge that’s hard to ignore – environmental pollution. Garbage is spread and burned around our streets, putting the health of our community at risk. Beyond the mess or foul odors, children are getting injured by sharp objects among the rubbish. Those with eye and respiratory diseases are suffering too, so we know we have to do something.

What did we do?

We believe we needed the community involved, so we hosted awareness seminars for 280 families, turning the spotlight on pollution’s impact. With most attendees being women, these sessions also became a place for them to voice their concerns and brainstorm solutions.

One significant activity we did was transform a local unit’s wall, which used to be a place where people threw trash, into a rest area for families and children. By placing more garbage bins and painting our campaign message on public walls, we started to see a change in behavior in our village.

We also conducted recycling workshops for 60 children, who learned how to turn trash into treasure. From crafting Ramadan and home decorations to dealing with hazardous waste safely, these sessions were fun ways we engaged with the younger children. Our local churches, mosques and NGOs also supported our movement, with them helping us spread the word on the harmful effects of littering, and how they can benefit from recycling usable waste.

Campaign Impact

Villagers were very skeptical at the beginning, especially about the young girls leading this change. Even our own families were against us joining the campaign, but we know that we have a role to play. And as we continued in our campaign, the community’s point of view shifted dramatically. We showed how being resilient, brave and confident can lead to changes, even in a short period of time. Now, the community acknowledges that we were able to achieve what men weren’t able to do.

Our campaign’s impact is now seen in every corner of our village – cleaner streets and a brighter, more vibrant atmosphere. Women are now eager to learn more about recycling and its benefits. Local authorities have made commitments to continue with our advocacy.

The cleanliness of our village is more than just a beautification project – it’s a step towards a healthier and safer environment for us all.