OLUWASEYI MOEJOH
NIGERIA, 19
Project: U-recycle Initiative
Cofounder: Fathia Bello
Basic Human Needs: Environment
In several Nigerian communities, people live surrounded by waste. Poor waste management systems have been a prevalent problem for decades, which has devastating consequences on public health and the environment. In September 2018 Oluwaseyi cofounded U-recycle Initiative to advance a circular economy in Africa by reinforcing environmental sustainability and a culture of recycling across the continent. U-recycle Initiative focuses on the education of communities and schools about waste management, and advocates for sustainable and effective policies, facilities and systems. In doing so, they hope to first, establish a proactive approach to mitigate our impact on the environment and fellow humans, and second, to empower youth to become sustainability advocates who can create and implement solutions. U-Recycle Initiative has led school workshops promoting environmental consciousness, community-wide advocacy events, global awareness campaigns, environmental movie screenings that have engaged 1,250+ young people across 7 African countries. In October 2020, U-recycle Initiative led Africa’s first “Litterathon Challenge,” which mobilized youth across 18 cities in 7 African countries in a widespread cleanup. U-recycle Initiative was awarded the 2020 Recycling Heroes Award from the Global Recycling Foundation, and Oluwaseyi was named a 2020 National Geographic Young Explorer. In the near future, U-recycle Initiative will establish “U-hubs” in schools to serve as resource centers for environmental information beyond the classroom. As she continues her work, Oluwaseyi hopes to influence governments to implement lasting legislation to protect and sustain the environment in Africa and the world.