SustyVibes, a non-profit organisation focused on promoting sustainability among youth, recently collaborated with UPS Nigeria to present the Unite4EarthDay Campaign.
This initiative was launched as part of the commemoration of Earth Day 2024 to raise awareness about environmental sustainability within the wider community.
The Unite4EarthDay Campaign, funded by the UPS Foundation, is an initiative aimed at building the capacity and knowledge of people, local communities, and Nigerians at large to advocate for sustainable waste management practices like plastic reduction, transition to sustainable alternatives, and promotion of the circular economy.
The project commenced with a month-long online advocacy campaign that leveraged interactive media content and quizzes to advance knowledge of the dangers of plastic pollution, increase access to recycling opportunities, and promote eco-friendly lifestyle practices among young people.
We also initiated an internal campaign across UPS branches in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, where staff participated in a recycling challenge to collect the highest volume of plastic waste.
The campaign expanded its outreach efforts by organising Street Conference events in diverse communities, including the Odo-Eran community in Bariga, Lagos, the Waterlines area in Port Harcourt, and the bustling Area 1 Shopping Complex in Abuja. These events served as platforms to engage with a wide range of people, including children, residents, and traders. Through interactive sessions and informative discussions, attendees were sensitised to the significance of embracing healthy and sustainable waste management practices. By empowering them with the knowledge and practice needed to address environmental challenges, the campaign fostered a culture of environmental stewardship and collective action.
Our activities included spot clearances in targeted areas, advocating for recycling, and facilitating subscription drives to increase community participation. Additionally, we donated plastic collection bins to host communities, providing tangible resources to support recycling efforts. Through exemplary actions and one-on-one engagements, we inspired communities to commit to plastic waste recycling and prioritise environmental sanitation, fostering a sense of empowerment and ownership for lasting change towards a cleaner, more sustainable environment.
The Unite4EarthDay campaign resulted in increased awareness among over 1000 young Nigerians who engaged with our informative content on the problem of plastic pollution. Our cleanup activities also recovered 137 kg of plastic waste and over 200kg of municipal solid waste, which were transported by our recycling and waste management partners.
The campaign also empowered three communities across Nigeria to embrace sustainable waste management practices via the provision of recycling bins and matching with recycling organisations. Furthermore, we provided opportunities for over 200 young Nigerians to engage in practical environmental advocacy activities, thereby increasing their knowledge, passion, and commitment to environmental sustainability.
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