INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF WASTE PICKERS

The International Alliance of Waste Pickers is a union of waste picker organizations representing more than 460,000 workers across 34 countries
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Matopeni Women Group

Kisumu, Kenya

Primary information

Year formed
2002
Formally registered
No
Number of members
12
Type of members
Waste picker support organization
Occupation of members
Itinerant buyers, Waste collectors
Type of Organization
Women´s group
Organizational Reach
Local
Workplace of members
Fixed
Membership
Yes
Organization Structure
The group meets every Wednesday to weave and also have a management committee which meets every week. The leaders are selected through elections which are held every year. A membership fee of 50 shillings is charged and the group’s activities are funded through sale of the products and better trade. Records kept include financial contributions and activity records.
Objectives
Job creation
Partnering organizations
KIWAMA
Affiliations
Waste picker organization
Funding
Self funded
Internal elections
Annually
Women composition
75,0%

Social networking sites


Benefits

Member benefits
Job creation & source of income

Services

Types of materials
Plastics
Are they selling to middlemen?
No
Activities
Farming, New items made from collected materials
Challenges to access waste
Foul smell & contamination from waste, Lack of infrastructure & resources, Transportation

Complementary Information

Information source
Africa 2009

Comments / Narrative

Only plastic waste is reclaimed by this group and they buy it from street children and carried by head to processing site. Two and a half kg of plastics are handled weekly. These plastics are used to make baskets, mats and carpets which are sold in the market and around Kisumu town. The group benefits from diversification of income sources, keeps the jobless young women busy, promoting use of the baskets instead of polythene bags and achieving a plastic free environment.


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