More DW Blogs DW.COM

Generation Change

Upcycler in Nigeria weaves colorful livelihood

Do you know what happens to the leftover fabric when your clothes are made? Esther Uwem Etim, 25, from Nigeria wanted to keep valuable materials from going to waste, so she started collecting unused textiles and turning them into beautiful rugs.

As part of the Village Weavers Project, Esther doesn’t upcycle by herself. She’s trained more than 100 low-income women to make the rugs, which are now being sold all over the world. The project isn’t just good for the environment, it provides a livelihood to those in need.

Listen to the report by Nonye Aghaji in Abuja, Nigeria:

Esther brings together beauty and practicality in her work (Photo: N. Aghaji)

Esther brings together beauty and practicality in her work (Photo: N. Aghaji)

Esther has instructed dozens of women on how to weave the rugs (Photo. N. Aghaji)

Esther has instructed dozens of women on how to weave the rugs (Photo. N. Aghaji)

Ruth Zhumbul helps sell the rugs to customers abroad (Photo: N. Aghaji)

Ruth Zhumbul helps sell the rugs to customers abroad (Photo: N. Aghaji)

Date

Tuesday 10.06.2014 | 11:05

Tags

Africa, Nigeria, textiles, upcycling

Share

Previous Post

|

|

Next Post

Related Content

On two wheels out of poverty 05/06/2014

Johannes Wolf from Germany is passionate about cycling, but he knows that bikes aren't just a good way to get some exercise. In developing countries they can be crucial to running a small business and delivering goods.

Lifelong learning for kids in rural Nigeria 04/15/2014

Simon Patrick Obi from Nigeria built a library at a school in the rural region of Ketti just outside the capital, Abuja, during his time of national youth service. But even after his obligation was finished, he went back because he saw that more needed to be done to support not only the kids' education, but also their health.

Love first for Cameroonian charity founder 01/28/2014

On a trip to South Africa a few years ago, Jesse Carlton Ndongo, 21-year-old student from Cameroon, was touched by the large number of children he met who'd been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. He saw first-hand the pain and anguish they face, but also noticed that they seem to be neglected by the rest of society.

Tags
music Argentina health China Afghanistan school Portugal orphans politics Asia education Berlin environment Africa teacher activism women gender India Germany poverty human rights France Latin America democracy sports violence South Africa Kenya Middle East refugees agriculture children recycling dance culture art youth employment Canada
Recent posts
Blogroll
- 52 Projects A Canadian proves sustainable living is possible by making one new thing a week for a year.
- Africare Africare’s programs focus on four principal interrelated areas: Food Security, Water, Health, and Emergency Response.
- Amnesty International's Youth and Student program AI is a global movement committed to defending those who are denied justice or freedom.
- Be the Cause Be the Cause is a Network of individuals who not only wish to make a difference in the world, but also wish to change their own lives in the process.
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative DNDi is a collaborative, patients’ needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases.
- envision Young people making a difference.
- European Youth Forum For the rights of youth.
- Futuro Si Initiative for children in Latin America.
- Global Fund for Women Promoting women’s economic security, health, education and leadership.
- Global Youth Connect Empowering youth to advance human rights and create a more just world.
- Hedwig and Robert Samuel Foundation The Hedwig and Robert Samuel Foundation is a non-profit organization which supports socially deprived children and youths in the areas of education and vocational training in Central America and Asia.
- Internation Citizen Service (Facebook page) ICS, launched by the UK government, is a global volunteering experience which supports young people from all backgrounds to make a real difference to some of the world’s poorest people.
- International Peace Institute Promoting the prevention and settlement of conflict.
- John Dau Foundation The John Dau Foundation is fulfilling the dream of Lost Boy and genocide survivor John Dau to provide healthcare in the war-torn region of South Sudan by building and sustaining medical clinics and training community health workers.
- Nano Control Nano-Control has got involved with healthy indoor air as well as research and elimination of the risks and helps people harmed.
- Open Doors An organization helping orphaned children in Romania
- PCI – Positive Community Impact PCI is a nonprofit health and humanitarian aid organization dedicated to preventing disease, improving community health, and promoting sustainable development worldwide.
- Singing for Change Fabian and Viv want to raise money for charities all over the world by taking singing challenges from donors.
- Taking IT Global The largest online community of youth interested in global issues and creating positive change.
- The Art of Non-Conformity Unconventional strategies for life, work, and travel.
- The Free Child Project The mission of The Freechild Project is to advocate, inform, and celebrate social change led by and with young people around the world, especially those who have been historically denied the right to participate.
- Turtle Foundation blog Volunteers on Cape Verde protect endangered giant sea turtles.
- What Kids Can Do Voices and work from the next generation.
- YMAD Youth Making a Difference – Worldwide
- YouthNet Celebrating 16 years of supporting young people online.
Archives
Archives