In the lake, an attraction that makes Hawassa one of the main tourist centers of Ethiopia, plastic accumulates. In this context, our intervention can be really effective in making the city a virtuous example of commitment to environmental care
Here is the testimony of Paola Galassi and Francesca Longo, our Social Community Theatre trainers engaged in Hawassa, Ethiopia, within the #100% plastic project, lead by Cifa Onlus from Turin. What is it about?
> The photogallery
> The project description
> Listen to the interview to Silvia Vanzetto, Cifa Onlus Program Manager
When we talk about Africa and the environment, the first image that comes to mind are landscapes in which nature coexists with large quantities of garbage. Unlike many African cities where rubbish accumulates on the roadsides, Hawassa strikes us with its cleanliness: the main roads are paved and crossed by verdant flowerbeds. Despite this, here and there you see small bonfires of garbage, the drainage channels – used to avoid flooding during the rainy season – are often clogged with bottles and in the lake, attraction that makes Hawassa one of the main tourist centers of Ethiopia, the plastic accumulates. In this context, our intervention can be really effective in making the city a virtuous example of commitment to environmental care.
We visited he plastic collection point that CIFA NGO manages together with local associations and we received the first information about the collectors, those involved in the collection and differentiation of plastic both door-to-door and in the streets, and directly in the landfills of the city. We are enthusiastic about the project and we look forward to starting to work with the community.
We met the staff who will be with us during the project and we have just concluded two intense selection days for the Community mobilizers, which took place through a TSC workshop. A new experience for the 17 participants, who were enthusiastic about having a taste of the methodology, sharing theater games and simulations.
The first step, therefore, was done: the work team is now complete, with the two selected Community mobilizers, Temesgen and Asegid, who will support us throughout the project.
With them we will go for the first time to witness the activity of one of the Hawassa youth centers. I wonder if there we will find some of the young people who will be part of the group that will build the final theatre event with us …”.