Tanzanian NGO marks Environmental Day with grassroots action

DAR ES SALAAM; AS the World unites to celebrate World Environment Day, a Tanzanian organization is turning global goals into grassroots action.

HUDEFO, the Human Development Foundation is placing youth empowerment and environmental sustainability at the heart of its mission and the results are already making waves.

More than 264 young people, many of them informal waste pickers, participated in an intensive training program organized by HUDEFO.

The program focused on waste management, recycling, and upcycling, equipping participants with the tools and knowledge to turn discarded materials into viable business opportunities — quite literally transforming waste into wealth.

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“As the world comes together to commemorate World Environment Day, a powerful message is emerging from the heart of community action: sustainability and youth empowerment can go hand in hand,” said Sarah Pima, Executive Director of HUDEFO, during the event.

She emphasised HUDEFO’s work demonstrates how local solutions can fuel global change, particularly in communities where young people face high levels of unemployment and limited access to opportunity.

To mark World Environment Day 2025, HUDEFO organised a range of interactive and impactful activities aimed at both environmental education and community engagement. These included:

“Walk and Pick” Clean-Up Drive – Mobilising community members to clean public areas and raise awareness about waste management, exhibitions – Showcasing youth-led innovations in recycling and sustainable products, Report Dissemination – Highlighting the outcomes and successes of HUDEFO’s initiatives over the past year.

Other activities done are Networking Sessions – Bringing together youth, Government Officials, NGOs, and Private sector Stakeholders to share knowledge and explore partnerships, Community Gatherings and Refreshments – Encouraging collaboration and unity in a relaxed, inclusive setting.

The organisation’s vision is clear: empower young people, protect the planet, and uplift communities. By transforming waste into opportunity, the organisation is not just cleaning the environment — it’s cleaning the path to a more inclusive, resilient future.

On his part, Director of Compliance and Enforcement at the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), Jamali Baruti, said their statistics show that 29,000 tonnes of plastic waste contribute to environmental pollution and endanger marine life. He emphasized that the main source of this pollution is the use of plastic materials.