Lamu Women Alliance (LAWA) has in the the past spend time on cleaning beaches and teaching people how to recycle and manage waste. Through the women inclusion in climate justice project beach cleanups have now grown into a movement that is changing how Lamu sees its waste, its environment, and its future.
For residents of Lamu, the beaches are not just beautiful they are vital. They support fishing, attract tourists, and are home to marine life, mangroves, and even a mode for transportation. However plastic waste has been threatening all of this. Plastic bags and bottles clogged the grounds. Fishing nets brought up more waste than fish. The mangroves, nature’s barriers against high tides were choking with waste.
LAWA responded by bringing together residents from across the island, women, children, elders, and youth. Armed with gloves, sacks, and determination, they cleaned beaches in Shella, Manda, Kipungani, and beyond. As a result, the shores are cleaner, fish are returning, mangroves are recovering, and fishermen are reporting fewer plastic obstructions in their nets.
But LAWA didn’t stop at cleaning. They saw an opportunity to turn waste into something valuable. Through community workshops, they taught residents how to sort, recycle, and reuse waste. What was once seen as useless garbage is now a source of creativity, income saving, and pride.
The change is vividly noticeable, residents especially youths are more than happy. “Before LAWA came, we only knew about collecting plastics to sell as scrap. We didn’t know plastic could be recycled or that it was harming our fish, our mangroves and our health.
Through LAWA we were able to learn the recycling process and as you can see there is no much waste in our beaches compared to before. Now we know better. We’re doing better.”
Stated Ali Mohammed a youth from LOYD organization during the close out meeting of the women inclusion in climate justice project.
This testimony reflects something deeper than clean beaches; it shows a change in mindset. People are no longer ignoring plastic waste or seeing it as just trash. They’re using it to build, to create, and to protect.
Recycling isn’t just about managing waste. It means, Protecting marine life from suffocation and injury.
Reducing pollution in our fishing waters and tourism areas.
Creating new sources of income for women and youth.
Teaching future generations to respect and care for their environment. Recycling also promotes sustainable fishing and responsible tourism, both of which are key to Lamu’s economy and culture.
Lamu Women Alliance has proven that change begins with us.That a group of determined community members can bring back the beauty of our island, protect our ocean,but the work isn’t done.
We call on you to help us keep our shores clean, for a clean ocean is a collective responsibility.
