Core Programmes
Core Programmes
WomenPreneurS4Plastics
Supported by BMZ / Malteser International, the project on “Protecting the environment and empowering women through their innovative and active involvement in the plastic recycling value chain”
WOMENPRENEURS4PLASTICS – is implemented by Pro-Vision in 20 villages of Kanyakumari District since November 2021.
With the overall objective of contributing to the protection of ecosystems, livelihoods, reduction in poverty, improvement of human health and women’s empowerment in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India, the project aims at Plastic pollution in communities is reduced and income opportunities for young women are improved. Towards attainment of these, the sub goals (Outputs) aimed at are:
KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS “3R” ARE CHANGED POSITIVELY
The project promotes awareness in the community on 3 R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Towards this community sensitisation programmes, transect walks and awareness on solid waste management are conducted in each village. Through these programmes the participants gain knowledge about plastic, its advantages and dis-advantages. They realise how their habits of burning plastics, filling land with plastics and throwing away is harmful to human being, animals, marine life and the environment and also for our future generations. To support them in their behaviour change, the community organisers visit the target beneficiaries in their houses and advise them how to segregate their waste at home in a safe and healthy way. To deserving poor families the project provides segregation bags.
Through Kitchen Plastic Audit, the households are encouraged to REDUCE PLASTICS in the kitchens by using alternatives. REUSE PLASTICS through plastic reuse kitchen gardens and support RECYCLING PLASTICS by handing over them to the Women Plastic Banks. They are guided to collect used plastics in a jute bag and the plastic covers using an iron hook and hand over the plastic covers to the sanitary workers or the women plastic banks.
WOMEN PLASTIC ENTREPRENEUR GROUPS (WPEG) ARE FUNCTIONING AS BASE
Women Plastic Entrepreneur Groups are formed at strategic locations with marginalised and vulnerable women including women below poverty line, women headed family, single, deserted, widow, women without regular job or access to regular income, interested to take up income generation activities particularly related to plastics and interested to be part of groups and involve in community events.
# 15 WPEGs are functioning with 203 members
These groups have internal savings, subscription with bank accounts that add safety for the money and also recognition for the groups. From the initial stage itself, environmental protection is given due emphasis and the groups are motivated and guided to undertaken activities towards this end.
Every group manages at least one women plastic bank, where with the aim of promoting 3R, plastics are collected and processed for recycling.
Two WPEGs have initiated alternatives for plastics using the traditional, locally available coconut sticks and shells.
WPEG, Kottaram making coconut brooms
Manakudi making coconut shell-based products
WOMEN PLASTIC BANKS / COLLECTION POINTS ARE IN OPERATION
One of the key activities visualised for the WPE-Groups is management of plastic banks, where they could buy or collect plastics from different sources and sell them. Thus, they could support protection of environment and also earn supplementary income.
With the financially and technical support from the project 15 WPBs are in operation. As they are established within in the community and managed by the group, they get better acceptance from the community and enjoy their support.
Many families are determined to give their plastic waste only to the women plastic banks. Most WPBs also deal with non-plastic waste as they provide them with more income to sustain their initiatives.
# 15 WPBGs are managed by WPEGs
RECYCLING WORKSHOPS ARE ESTABLISHED AND IN OPERATION
The project has established three plastic grinding units and one extruder unit. The plastics collected by the WPBs and other vendors are converted into chips in the grinding units managed by the network of WPEGs.
WPEGS ARE CO-ORDINATED AND NETWORK WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
The WPEGs are co-ordinated as Vazham Women Micro Entrepreneurs Forum and this forum is registered and evolved to take over the management of the groups and sustain the plastic banks, recycling workshop and work for the environmental protection.
