We are a community development project started by the Secunda Junior Engineers in 2013. It is based on the model of a recycle swop shop which has been used in other projects in the country. The basic concept is that children bring recyclable materials; we weigh the materials and provide them with points based on the value of the materials. The children can then use these points in our shop to purchase basic necessities.
At the Emba Swop Shop we are all about empowering youth to help themselves improve their situation. We aim to foster an understanding of economic principals and encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in the children we serve. Our other aim is to provide environmental education to the children. We provide them with the practical understanding that waste is not always worthless and in our case it can be very valuable for them. We also educate them on the different types of waste, they are required to sort and separate their recyclable materials into glass, plastic, and tin.
Here is a video of us being featured on Expresso Morning Show on SABC 3, take a look: