Kenya – Youth from the Zawadi Youth Enterprise Program utilized innovative technology, funded by GPA to implement a waste to wealth program.  The organization purchased a multipurpose extruder, initially to process plastics and waste materials and later to process briquettes into environmentally friendly and profitable fuel.  The organization achieved its objective of empowering former street youth and other at-risk youth by providing opportunities for financial sustainability and positive engagement with the broader community.  The program incorporated entrepreneurship, conservation, leadership, and technical  innovation.  Several interesting challenges presented necessitating flexibility within the project.  Initial technology to convert waste plastics into fuel pellets proved unworkable, as a result, the organization developed technology to convert pellets to fuel .  Furthermore,  a new system of government and constitution resulted in the transfer of supportive government employees;  the organization had unreliable local leadership and was uncertain as to how to function in this new governmental system.   Nevertheless, the project proceeded and became a successful model empowering 30 vulnerable youth to become productive members of their community.

Organization member tapping the distillate from the condensation chamber, raw materials are used to make pellets into fuel.