My Waste, My Responsibility 3.0
Malawi | My Waste, My Responsibility 3.0 – Shift Power Organisation | 2024
Moni!
We are the Shift Power Organisation (formerly Lilongwe Shifters), a dedicated group of young climate activists fighting for a cleaner, healthier city. Since 2022, we have worked on waste management and environmental advocacy, shifting from awareness-building to innovative action using technology. In 2024, we launched our latest campaign to map waste hotspots, advocate for systemic change, and drive smarter waste solutions. Our mission? To move beyond conversations and create long-term, sustainable waste management systems for Lilongwe's markets and communities.
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18 to 27 years old
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Our Journey So Far: 3 Years of Impact
2022: My Waste, My Responsibility – We launched a city-wide awareness campaign that engaged vendors, students, and community leaders in conversations about proper waste disposal and the dangers of unmanaged waste. We introduced waste bins in key areas and partnered with city officials to kickstart behavioral change.
2023: From Awareness to Action – We pushed for policy change, working with Lilongwe City Council (LCC) to increase waste collection in high-risk zones. We also mapped waste accumulation in urban areas and pushed local businesses to adopt waste separation practices.
2024: Data-Driven Solutions – This year, we are scaling to 3 additional markets and using drone technology to map waste hotspots, allowing us to advocate with real-time data and push for structural waste management improvements.
The Right-Sized Problem
Waste management in Lilongwe remains inefficient and unsustainable, particularly in bustling market areas like Ngwenya, Nsungwi, and Nsundwe. Lack of infrastructure, irregular waste collection, and limited awareness contribute to severe environmental and health risks. Without technology-driven advocacy and community collaboration, waste issues will continue to escalate.
What did we do?
Over four months, we combined data-driven advocacy, community engagement, and digital innovation to create sustainable waste management solutions.
Offline Impact
Drone Mapping of Waste Hotspots – Partnered with Wind Ride Aeros (WRA) to capture aerial visuals of waste distribution in three major markets.
Community Engagement Sessions – Held stakeholder meetings with city councils, market leaders, and local businesses, identifying core waste issues and solutions.
Advocacy with Lilongwe City Council (LCC) – Used data from drone mapping to push for policy improvements in waste collection and sanitation management.
Collaborations with Market Committees – Worked with vendors and local leaders to introduce better waste disposal systems in high-traffic areas.
Online & Media Impact
📱 Social Media Awareness – Shared drone footage, data insights, and campaign updates through Shifters Malawi’s digital platforms, reaching 252,766 people.
📢 Media Coverage – Featured in local newspapers, TV, and radio stations, bringing national attention to our innovative waste mapping efforts.
📢 Explore Our Campaign Content:
🔗 TV Feature: Air Pollution in Malawi
🔗 Interactive Mural Coverage
Impact in Numbers
Mapped waste hotspots in three major markets (Ngwenya, Nsungwi, and Nsundwe).
252,766 people reached through online awareness campaigns.
Strengthened partnerships with Lilongwe City Council & Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
Secured funding to implement urgent waste management solutions in high-risk areas.
Created a model for linking market structures with waste management solutions.
Campaign Impact
One of the most significant successes of this campaign was shifting from advocacy to action. By using drone-collected data, we could visually prove waste management inefficiencies, making our advocacy efforts stronger and more data-driven.
Following this campaign, Lilongwe Shifters were awarded funds to implement immediate waste solutions, particularly focusing on waste reduction strategies in high-risk market areas that impact children’s health.
What’s Next?
We are committed to expanding data-driven waste management advocacy by:
📌 Scaling up drone mapping to additional markets and urban zones.
📌 Developing structured waste disposal initiatives in collaboration with LCC.
📌 Training more youth in waste mapping, advocacy, and environmental activism.
Follow our journey:
📍 Facebook: Shifters Malawi
