Turkish nonprofit encouraging waste recycling in Rwanda

By Omer Faruk Ozbil and James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - The Yunus Emre Institute in Rwanda’s capital of Kigali is teaching students to recycle waste into useful materials to protect the environment and generate wealth.

The initiative targeting students at the University of Rwanda and surrounding communities is being implemented through the Yunus Emre Institute Craft Days program.

Enes Karacoban, an instructor and head of the Yunus Emre Institute Kigali, told Anadolu Agency that students picked an interest in the recycling program during a Turkish language lecture.

The institute is happy about the initiative of students to protect the environment and the program focuses on raising awareness about the wealth in used materials such as paper, newspapers and plastics, said Karacoban.

Materials produced from waste include flags, baskets and decoration products.

Through the program, learners and the surrounding community will be trained on how to transform used materials into new products, he said.

In doing so, it raises awareness of the overall goal of protecting the environment while generating income, he said.

The program is based on the general philosophy applied to improved waste management practice covering reducing, reusing and recycling.

Initially, students will have eight learning sessions in three months, according to Karacoban.

Trainers said the program has inspired youngsters to get involved in environmental conservation.

The youth have started to take waste materials to the center and suggest different approaches to transforming them into useful products, said Karacoban.

“We hope those pioneer youth will serve as ambassadors of environment protection in their respective communities by raising awareness that instead of being a problem, waste material can be a source of wealth,” he added.

Taka Hubert Munguankwako, a student and trainer, said the institute decided to involve youth in transforming waste because they can be agents of change.

Yunus Emre Institute is a worldwide nonprofit organization created by the Turkish government in 2007.

Named after famous 14th-century poet Yunus Emre, it aims to promote the Turkish language and culture around the world. The branch was launched at the University of Rwanda in May.​​​​​​​