In many refugee settlements, waste is visible symbol of neglect plastic bottles lining footpaths, drainage channels blocked, and open spaces turned into dumping grounds. In Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, however a growing movement led young people is challenging this narrative what was once seen as useless waste is now being transformed into opportunity/income, and climate actiin.
At the heart of PICKNET(Poverty, Injustice Consultancy and Kids Network) a refugee-led organization working to empower youth and host-communities through livelihoods, skills development and environmental sustainability. Through its flagship initiative, YP-CARE(Youth-led Plastic Recycling for Climate Action and Circular Economy), PICKNET is demonstrating how youth-driven solutions can address environmental challenges while building resilient livelihoods in fragile settings.
From plastic pollution to possibility.
Plastic pollution is a growing challenge in refugee settlements, where rapid population growth, limited waste infrastructure, and constrained resources combine to strain the environment. PET bottles, sachets, and other plastic waste could become a resource rather than a problem. By engaging refugee and host-community youth in plastic collection, sorting and recycling management into a pathway for income generation and climate action.
Through YP-CARE(Youth-led Plastic Recycling for Climate Action and Circular Economy), young people collect discarded PET bottles from households, markets, and public spaces. PICKNET is seeking support, Fund to sort, aggregate these plastics and prepare them for recycling, creating a steady source of income while significantly reducing pollution. PICKNET is sensitizing youth to: collecting plastic wastes from the community, sorting and transforming waste into usable materials, designing and producing marketable products.
For many youth, this is their first opportunity to earn independently and contribute meaningfully to their community. Youth at the centre of climate action one of the defining strengths of YP-CARE is that it places youth leadership at the centre. Rather than being passive beneficiaries, young people are trained as environmental stewards, entrepreneurs, and change agents. They gain practical green skills, financial literacy, and experience working within a circular economy model.
This youth-led approach delivers impact on multiple levels. Environmentally, it reduces plastic leakage into soil and water systems, improves sanitation, and support climate mitigation efforts. Socially, it restores dignity and purpose to young people who often face limited oppprtunities due to displacement. Economically, it creates livelihoods that are locally rooted and scalable. In Rwamwanja, youth involved in YP-CARE(Youth-led Plastic Recycling for Climate Action and Circular Economy) are not only earning income, they are reshaping how their communities view waste, responsibility, and climate action.
As one participant shared, "we used to see plastic everywhere and feel powerless. Now we see value, and we know we are protecting our environment."
Triple impact through the Circular Economy
The YP-CARE model delivers a clear triple impact that reasonates strongly with donors and partners seeking sustainable, integrated solutions.
Environment Protection. By removing plastic waste from the environment and promoting recycling and reuse, YP-CARE contributes directly to climate action. Cleaner public spaces, reduced pollution, and improved environmental health benefit both refugees and host communities. Youth livelihoods and skills development. YP-CARE equips youth with market-relevant green skills, entrepreneurial experience, and pathways to self-reliance. Participants earn income while gaining confidence, leadership abilities, and practical knoweledge that can be applied beyond the project.
Our Economic Resilience through the Circular Economy:
By integrating marginalised communities into recycling value chains, YP-CARE transforms dependency into productivity. Waste becomes raw material, and youth become contributors to local economies rather than recipients of aid. This Circular Economy approach aligns closely with global development priorities, including climate resilience, green jobs, and inclusive growth, making it a compelling investment opportunity for donors.
A scalable Model for Refugee Settlements what makes YP-CARE particularly powerful is its potential for scale and replication. With adequate support, the model can be expanded to reach more youth, increase recycling volumes, and diversity into value addition such as plastic crafts, reusable products or partnerships with recycling companies.
For PICKNET, scaling YP-CARE means creating more green jobs, strengthening environmental awareness, and embeding climate action into everyday livelihoods within refugees settlements. It also means building stronger collaboration with local authorities, humanitarian actors, and private sector partners to ensure long-term sustainability. Importantly, YP-CARE aligns with national and global climate and development agenda, offering donors an opportunity to support a locally led solution with measurable impact. Despite its success, YP-CARE faces limitations common to many grassroots initiative: limited equipments, insufficient working capital, and growing demand from youth eager to participate. Strategic donor investment can unlock the next phase of impact expanding training, improving recycling infrastructure, and strengthening market linkages.
By supporting YP-CARE, donors are not only funding a project; they are involving on youth leadership, climate resilience, and dignified livelihoods in one of the world's most vulnerable contexts. They are backing a refugee-led organizations that understands local realities and delivers solutions rooted in community ownership. YP-CARE challenges the dominant narrative that refugee settlements are places of independency and environmental degradation. Instead, it shows that when you are trusted, equipped, and supported, they can lead innovative climate solution that benefits everyone.
In Rwamwanja, plastic waste is no longer just waste. It is income. It is empowerment. It is climate action. Our youth become innovators, change-makers, job creators meaning self-reliants.
Join us to Build Hope
At PICKNET, we believe that hope is built through action. We invite you to partner, invest and collaborate with us to empower refugees and host communities.
Together, through PICKNET and YP-CARE, we can turn waste into wealth and build a greener more inclusive future led by youth. We can also transform potential into progress and create lasting change.
Thank you for your time and support.