#MEET Waste Business Hub
This is a short interview we conducted with Ngalim Franklin N, the creator of Waste Business Hub. If you like this project and would like to vote for it, click here.
1. Please, tell us a bit about yourself: where are you from and what is your background?
Ngalim Franklin Njaiwo popularly known as Mr. Green is a grassroots environmentalist with 7 years’ experience working as Founder/President of The Greens, and a Geology Teacher with 8 years’ experience working at Government High School Kedjom-Keku. Born in Bamenda, the North West Region of Cameroon, Mr. Green holds a B.Sc in Environmental Science and Water Resource Management and Secondary and High Schools Teacher's Diploma in Geology. His Life's Development Goals (LGDs) are to respect and affirm the inalienable dignity of the human person, promote education for all and foster global environmental sustainability.
2. Can you describe your idea or project in two sentences?
Waste Business Hub is a startup incubator of The Greens that aims at freely training young and underprivileged youths on the business opportunities available in the domain of waste in order to alleviate poverty and curb youth unemployment, improve agriculture and biodiversity conservation, improve health and well-being, reduce inequalities as well as combat climate change and promote sustainable cities and communities. Th main goal of the project is to nurture a generation of waste business entrepreneurs (wastepreneurs).
3. How did you get your idea or concept?
Cameroon is still underdeveloped and faces a major challenge in the hygiene and sanitation and waste management sectors. The lack of education on hygiene and sanitation and waste management as well as the absence of recycling infrastructures are greatly accelerating land degradation, pollution, ill-health, poverty, and climate change. The aforementioned challenges in my country are a direct reflection of what is happening in Bamenda, the North West Region of Cameroon as many youths are unemployed, the land is continuously being degraded, pollution is increasing, people litter anywhere anytime, people don’t sort waste, etc. After researching, I realized that more than 45% of waste in Bamenda is organic waste which could be recycled to produce organic manure. More than 70% of textile waste from homes and fashion designers’ (tailoring) workshops which could be recycled are thrown in the landfill or burned. In fact, waste is wasted in Bamenda and this explains why I want to change the situation. As such, i engaged in creative thinking coupled with my passion to help people, while making a profit and helping the planet: The result, Waste Business Hub.
4. What is unique about your idea/project and how does it benefit mankind?
My project is unique in that it transforms trash to treasure. My project provides a unique opportunity for young people to become entrepreneurs (Wastepreneurs) by using trash. With little or no capital, young people can become entrepreneurs since their main raw material is waste.
The project is very beneficial to people and the planet in that it trains and empowers young people to become entrepreneurs as well as clean up, fix up and conserve the planet. The project also provides a lot of assistance to poor people by providing them with free clothes and very simple and affordable recycled products that can make their lives much more better.
5. Describe yourself as an entrepreneur in one sentence
I make profits while helping people and the planet.
6. How do you deal with people that doubt your abilities/initiatives?
I don't spend my time thinking about such people. My results speak to them and motivate them to take action.
7. Where does your passion lie?
My passion lies in education, human rights/human dignity and environmentalism (Sustainability).
8. What are you afraid of or what keeps you up at night?
I fear that I may not be able to realize all my goals in life and every night I work hard to train more and more young people so that in my absence, my legacy can live on.
9. According to you, money is a synonym for.....
Legal tender
10. If you could rid the world of three things, what would they be?
- Racism
- Climate change
- Weapons
11. What are the benefits you take from the Entrepreneurship Campus?
Networking and contests opportunities.
Knowledge about new ideas and concepts that can be used to change the world.
12. What do you like more about the Entrepreneurship Campus?
Networking opportunities it provides.
13. Which idea/project do you like most?
Waste Business Hub
NOTICE: If you want to see more submitted ideas and projects at the Youth Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition, visit BEST IDEAS and BEST PROJECTS and VOTE for the ones you think deserve to WIN the Competition!
