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Every minute, enough plastic to reach the top of the Statue of Liberty is either burned or dumped in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, discarded plastic bottles are often burned in parks, releasing toxins and particles that threaten human health, wildlife and fragile ecosystems. This fund, whose name is Amharic for "long-lasting," is working to change this.

Through collaboration between students, scientists and local communities, this project is developing sustainable solutions to address Ethiopia's plastic bottle crisis. Our teams of undergraduate engineering students from Arizona State University and the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology are building small-scale recycling pipelines that will transform waste into valuable goods for communities near Ethiopia's national parks.

By creating recycling workshops at universities outside the parks, we are not only mitigating the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution but are also incorporating students and faculty across disciplines to engage in protecting and promoting human, animal and environmental health. This initiative will generate revenue, reduce waste and provide long-lasting solutions for both local economies and ecosystems.

With your generous support, we will be able to sponsor students from Ethiopia and ASU to collaborate on innovative projects that transform discarded plastic into valuable products for local communities. This funding will help us build recycling machines and expand our reach across Ethiopia, enabling us to assist more communities in need. It will also allow us to broaden the range of products our students can create, increasing economic opportunities for local populations through profitable, sustainable solutions. Your contribution directly empowers these impactful efforts, fostering education, innovation and positive change.