18 July 2022

Andrew Mwenda from Nairobi, Kenya, has mobilized young people to bolster support for straws made of bamboo or steel, rather than plastic. He joined the Tide Turners Challenge through his involvement with Kenya Scouts while studying at the University of Nairobi. Andrew held sessions at the university to raise awareness of plastic pollution, mobilized and trained a team of more than 20 young people and conducted monthly clean-ups in Makutano in Meru and Ngara in Nairobi. “Plastic pollution in these sites is being addressed mostly through community education and often clean-ups,” he says.

Andrew is focused on reducing single-use plastics in settings like schools, food markets and eateries. As part of his plastic-free campaign, he has recruited four people to work on partnerships, finance, logistics and marketing and set up Instagram and Twitter accounts to promote action.

See all young plastic pollution change-makers from Africa and India

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