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14 MAY 2014
Trash into cash: A student makes a business from recycling
Donald Patrick Bambara is the 20-year-old behind Green’Act, a social enterprise founded in
March last year when a team of students introduced a recycling system on their Institut
Supérieur de Management (ISM) campus in Dakar, Senegal.
Inspired by a Swiss exchange student visiting his school, Bambara was part of the team which
decided to do something about the lack of waste management systems in Senegal, visible in the
heaps of rubbish that have been piling up for years on many of Dakar’s streets.
“In Senegal the waste management system is very bad and we noticed that there is no recycling
system installed in schools and campuses,” said Bambara. “So this is the main reason we started
Green’Act; to bring a change and to actually transform a society, the way they act and the way
they manage their waste.”
After installing the first recycling system at his school, Bambara and his team started to focus on
educating other students about the benefits of recycling.
“We organised some events in order to promote greener habits. We did conferences, clean up
sessions in the street and, after a year, we realised that people were starting to change their
habits.”
Bambara’s efforts with Green’Act led him to be named as one of the 12 finalists for the 2013
Anzisha Prize, a competition which recognises entrepreneurs across the African continent
between the ages of 15 and 22 who are using entrepreneurship to solve problems in their
communities.
While Bambara is originally from Burkina Faso and had moved to Dakar to attend school, he
plans to stay in Senegal after he graduates from ISM this year, in order to focus on growing
Green’Act further.
Changing business model
Green’Act’s business model was previously based solely on the sale of recyclable material but
Bambara said the enterprise has since added new revenue streams which are more sustainable
and profitable.
In addition to setting up and managing a school’s recycling system, Green’Act has also
established a network of experienced educators who can be contracted to teach sustainable
development to students at all education levels. In an effort to promote environmentally friendly
practices, the Green’Act team will also plant trees and other plants on the school property.
Bambara highlighted that Green’Act believes real change starts with educating Africa’s youth.
“We believe that the schools represent an important part in the sustainable development of the
continent. Because if you change the schools and campuses where the future of the continent is
trained, this will have a powerful impact on the next years for the continent.”
Inspired by the International Standards Organisation, Green’Act has also developed a standard
called Sustainable African Schools and Campuses which can be offered to schools that adhere to
Green’Act’s practices for three years. Bambara said it aims to reduce their ecological footprints
while developing the first generation of sustainable African schools and campuses. Since it is an
international standard, Green’Act hopes to expand the label to other countries.
Advice to other entrepreneurs
Bambara said that being an Anzisha Prize fellow has given him access to a network of mentors
and advisors, and he has learnt a number of valuable lessons in the past year.
“I want the young African people who want to go into business to realise that if you want to
create your enterprise, you don’t have to focus on money. You just have to be focused on
creating something awesome, and once you create something awesome, money will follow.”
He also advises other aspiring entrepreneurs to do what they love, and look for ways to have a
positive impact in their countries.
“Africa needs you so never give up until you bring the changes that you want.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Contact us and our country-partners for country-level data & insights!
Anzisha Prize has a growing country partners programme with national level
organisations that are aligned to our mission across Africa. Please contact us for details
and contact information. Further, we will soon be in a position to release country-level
insights based on our applications pool to help media analyse and comment on
entrepreneur dynamics in your own countries. Email prize@anzishaprize.org with
queries.
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OVERVIEW IN FRENCH, ENGLISH OR ARABIC at
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3. Follow the story
Our journey through the prize process is easily told through our Facebook page. Visit
www.facebook.com/anzishaprize and follow our work to find Africa’s 12 top teen
entrepreneurs day-by-day.
Press Contact: Josh Adler; Email: jadler@africanleadershipacademy.org; 011 699 3000