U-recycle Initiative Africa, a leading youth-led NGO, has announced a significant leap toward environmental sustainability with the launch of its pioneering educational comic book, Kola & the Plastic Bottle.
This UN-backed initiative empowers African students to lead the circular economy transition by bridging the gap between three years of rigorous research and everyday youth action.
Supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the Global Environment Facility, the project utilises behavioural science to transform how young people perceive waste.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the organisation noted, “Through engaging storytelling derived from original research spanning over three years, the publication simplifies complex environmental challenges and translates them into everyday actions students can practice on their campus and beyond.”
Written by Oluwaseyi Jesuton and illustrated by Mike Asukwo, the narrative serves as a strategic tool for PlasticWize 2.0, a flagship program designed to turn university campuses into hubs for sustainability.
This creative work “pulls back the curtain on what really happens after ‘throwing it away’ and how small daily actions or inactions can contribute to the problem or solution in more ways than we think,” specifically highlighting the often-untold stories of environmental injustice.
With a track record of over 80 projects impacting more than 25,000 young people across 11 African countries, the NGO is now scaling its impact further.
Looking ahead, the organisation stated, “In the coming months, we plan to launch an innovative hackathon to engage university student teams across Africa to develop eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics using locally sourced materials,” reinforcing its mission to equip a new generation with the tools and motivation to tackle pollution at the source.
By: Jide Ajia
