Tag Archives: #goinggreennamibia

Small steps and the bigger picture

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The first ‘Good for Namibia’ project – the ‘Sew Good Namibia‘ group of craftswomen who make upcycled products in their homes, embodies the grassroots approach to linking community development with environmental issues in three ways.

Firstly, it addresses the need for the most disadvantaged members of our community – often those most affected by environmental degradation, climate change, and other linked issues – to increase their incomes; learn useful entrepreneurial skills; and plan for the future through a sustainable business model.

Secondly, the items created by the group (and by others I hope to assist in the future) are made in Namibia from locally available recycled materials. Therefore the profits remain within the communities that make the goods and the transportation costs (actual, and in terms of the negative impacts of fossil-fuel use and pollution) are kept to a minimum.

Lastly, of course, by upcycling waste, the projects will contribute towards reducing pollution in our country and beyond.

This waste – primarily plastic bottles and fast-food containers – was photographed in Windhoek last week. It has collected in a rainwater channel and will block the drainage eventually when – as we all fervently wish – it rains in a few weeks. The flooding that will then ensue as the flow backs up will inundate housing upstream, often in areas where newer, low cost housing has been constructed and informal settlements proliferate.

Local activism plays a role in advancing the goals of the global environmental movement too and so it is gratifying to see that Windhoek will host its first organised march against climate change at the end of this week.

‘Sew Good Namibia’ expands its product lines

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The ‘Sew Good Namibia‘ project has a new member, who will be focusing on hand-sewing patchwork blocks in order to expand the range of products the group can offer. Ms Amory Tjipepa works in the security control room of an estate outside Windhoek and has plenty of time on her hands to make up these items from strips of contrasting furnishing fabric while she is on duty. Clients will be able to then have the finished squares made into cushions, quilts and pet beds.

(2026 update: since its inception, the ‘Sew Good Namibia’ project has remained – of necessity – a micro-scale operation. This is partly a function of the supply of its raw materials – donations of usable discontinued furnishing fabric samples are small in volume, only intermittent, and never guaranteed. But also, taking on a new craftsperson, training them, achieving high standards through strict quality control, and motivating them to create items when they only get paid once the product is sold has meant that, at the time of writing, we only have four women making items for the co-operative. Many, many others have been taken on, then proven unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. Therefore, in terms of communication and logistics, four has turned out to be the optimum number for smooth running of the business and plans to expand have been shelved for all time. However, as the fabric has to be prepared (sticky backing paper removed, shrinkable material washed) before it can be sewn, the women sometimes sub-contract this important step to the youth in their communities.)

Kenya’s experiment in banning plastic bags

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When Kenya decided to introduce severe penalties for the manufacturing, distribution, sale and use of plastic (polythene) carrier bags two years ago, it seemed like a pragmatic response to a critical issue. However, as this BBC article shows, not only are the sanctions disproportionate (in my view), but efforts to work around the ban by introducing ‘greener’ alternatives have had negative as well as positive consequences.

Clearly, well-intentioned legislation aiming to address environmental issues will be caught on the back foot if it fails to take into consideration the circumstances specific to any particular setting.