kufaa-tena

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KUFAA TENA
Bwejuu Women’s Cooperative & Recycling Project

K e e p i n g Z a n z i b a r B e a u t i f u l

Plastic bags have become a big problem for our island of Zanzibar and our nation, Tanzania. They are a scar on our beautiful towns, countryside and beach fronts, and
they clog up sewer and drainage systems, causing floods and backups. So we have come up with one small step to help reduce this problem.

Kufaa Tena (Kiswahili: to be useful again) is a project developed to help us keep our Zanzibar villages, towns and beach fronts clean while providing a means of
self-sufficiency for local women and resources for local schools. It was inspired by a similar project in Ethiopia and began in Zanzibar March 2005 with major support
from the Zanzibar Youth Educational and Development Support Association (ZAYEDESA) in cooperation with the USA and Tanzania-based Osiris Enterprises and the
Zanzibar Tourist Corporation.

Used plastic bags are collected by students before and after being discarded on streets and beaches. These bags are sold to Kufaa Tena Women’s Recycling
Project
in Bwejuu. The bags are cleaned and cut into strips that are crocheted into beautiful and sturdy handbags and similar items that are then sold locally and
internationally.

These recycled bags are affordable, strong and long-lasting. They are then used while shopping so that new plastic bags are no longer needed.
The goal of the project is to cut down the number of plastic bags in Zanzibar and so keep our island beautiful and clean.

UPDATE:
In late 2006 the government of Zanzibar became the first entity in Africa to ban the import and use of these plastic bags.
Hooray!!! for Zanzibar and kudos to Kufaa Tena for being a part of this significant milestone.
Simultaneously, on mainland Tanzania in Dar es Salaam, a plastics recycling plant has been established.
Tanzania is on the move! and Kufaa Tena has moved on to their next recycling project: recycled glass and tile mosaic art,
reclaimed textile crafts and seaweed baskets. Keep watching our site for these newest re-creations.
For more information on Kufaa Tena, contact coordinators Salama Dawa or Zakia Kibuda in Bwejuu at 255-777-455-796
or email zakiakibuda@yahoo.com. For inquiries outside of Zanzibar and Tanzania, contact tmtambuzi@aol.com or info@enterafrica.net.
Thank you for supporting our efforts.

NOW AVAILABLE!! Online Purchase of the limited remaining supply of
Kufaa Tena Recycled Handbags. Use PAY PAL to purchase bags at
$10 each including shipping and handling in the USA.
Discounts on orders of ten or more handbags.

CLICK HERE

and Rest Safe, Secure and Assured as you Help Us Keep Zanzibar Beautiful