WASTE  ISN’t  waste  until  you  waste  it

By turning plastic bags into baskets and/or art we prevent them from getting trown on the ground.

In Uganda you still get a single use plastic bag with every purchase. Once they're home it no longer has a use, so they throw it on the ground (most of them don't even have a trash bin).
Result: the soil in the slum contains layers upon layers of plastic bags. Therefore the rain can no longer enter the soil, so the water runs into their houses and destroys the little that they have.

And this is why we believe in our moto:
"Waste isn't waste until you waste it"

hOW IT ALL STARTED

The Ekibbo project is located in the largest slum of Kampala, called Katanga. During our stay in Uganda, we collected a group of women. These women were each facing financial difficulties, for various reasons. The most common reasons were AIDS, teenage motherhood, widowhood, etc. One thing they all had in common was that none of them had ever had the opportunity to go to school.
The average monthly income of a woman from a slum is 10 euros, and usually, this is the only money the family earns.

The first technique we taught these women was how to make baskets from plastic bags. The first basket was amazing, so Nathan and I decided to buy it for €10. Proudly, we took some nice photos and posted them on Facebook with a fitting caption. Within no time, we realized that the post was getting a huge number of likes, and many people were showing interest in buying a basket. This was the beginning of our success!

Upon our return to Belgium, we brought back 130 baskets. Each basket was directly purchased from the woman who made it. On average, each woman sold 10 baskets. This means that we were able to provide several women with almost a year's worth of income.

But it doesn't stop there. We were extremely impressed by the work of the women and the success in Belgium. Therefore, we have decided to turn it into a non-profit organization in 2021.

Meet the Team

  • Sam Vandermaesen

    FOUNDER

    Hi, my name is Sam.

    I am a creative young lady with a passion for design and adventure. The Ekibbo project is a perfect combination of both.

    During my study Interior Design I made the choice to turn my graduation internship into a great adventure. I set myself the task of starting a project in Katanga slum (Kampala, Uganda). My first goal was to reduce the enormous amount of plastic waste, by designing with waste. But it turned out to be much more because of the economic advantage for the families.

    The project became a succes so we turned it in a non-profit organization.

  • Nathan Martens

    CO-FOUNDER

    Hi, my name is Nathan.

    I have a great passion for nature and adventure.

    I went to Uganda for the first time back in 2013 to visit Juuko, my sponsor brother.

    After graduating I took the chance to go back once again and accompany Sam on this journey. Because I had these relationships in Uganda, it made our stay even more efficient.

    What's my role within Ekibbo?

    As a co-founder I help build Ekibbo's plans for the future. Besides that I capture imagery (clips and pics) and take care of social media.

  • Els Hulsmans

    CFO

    Hi, my name is Els.

    I’m the mother of Sam and even the Ekibbo women call me “Mommie” most of the time.

    The wide range of tasks I perform for Ekibbo are an extension of my daily life activities and skills acquired over the years.

    From finances to communication, from logistical challenges to practical arrangements, both in Belgium and Uganda.

    Bringing everyone's potential to the next level is my motto, by offering the necessary tools and support. The rest comes from within themselves.

    Arriving in Uganda feels like coming home to me.

  • Mariam Mirembe

    UGANDAN FIELD MANAGER

    Hi, my name is Mariam.

    As an employee of the Help Africa Foundation, I support the same children and families as Ekibbo. My role as a contact person between the Ekibbo team in Belgium and the Ekibbo women of the Katanga slum is essential for the success of the project.

    I regularly communicate with the Ekibbo women to exchange information. Gathering finished products and preparing shipments to Belgium and searching for local selling points are also among my responsibilities.