upcycling – Generation Change https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange Whether they are campaigning for free press in Zimbabwe, helping provide clean water in India, or offering free music lessons to underprivileged kids in the UK, young people all over the world are making a difference. Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:49:27 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Upcycler in Nigeria weaves colorful livelihood https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/2014/06/upcycler-in-nigeria-weaves-colorful-livelihood/ Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:05:36 +0000 http://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/?p=5197 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)

 

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