Faith Aweko is a wastepreneur. Her Uganda-based social enterprise, Reform Africa, recycles plastics to make unique and fashionable bags.

Reform Africa is a creative response to the waste management problems in and around Kampala, Uganda. According to Faith, plastic pollution in slums surrounding Kampala can build up to create blockages, causing flooding and health hazards. Upcycling plastics in Kampala mitigates waste, creates jobs and combines the founders’ passions of art and the environment.

REFORM AFRICA IN THE BECAUSE ACCELERATOR

This year, Faith participated in the spring 2020 cohort of the Because Accelerator, Because International’s online business incubator for entrepreneurs across the globe.

Faith shared that for Reform Africa, the main challenge has been creating tangible goals. She said that, “during the call with my [Because Accelerator] mentor, we realized that the solution [our product offers] is big.”

Reform Africa’s innovative solutions to the waste problem would have a big impact—but this can become overwhelming when setting goals for right now. “We need to focus on selling our bags in order to maintain a cash flow.” With this focus in mind, Reform Africa will be able to expand their business to what Faith envisions as eventually “recycl[ing] over 50 tons of plastic daily and being able to employ 5,000 youths in different parts of the country.”

PIVOTING DURING THE PANDEMIC

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reform Africa worked quickly to adjust for meeting the needs of front-line workers., partnering with Plastic Preneur to construct face shields that meet current health needs. Moving forward, innovative partnerships like this will help Reform Africa continue toward their goals.

Reflecting on her time in the Accelerator, Faith says that she was most profoundly impacted by hearing stories from Because International mentors about the process of designing The Shoe That Grows.

“I found it interesting because we faced a lot of challenges designing our bags and prototyping when we were still starting the company,” she recounts. “I learned patience and perseverance.”

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.