Our Story

I'm a regular 30 something female...I was born and raised in the United States, I grew up on the East Coast (Maryland/Washington D.C.). I have ties to Nigeria through my Mom who is mixed English and Nigerian. My best friend is a 20 something female, she is an all American, born and raised in Southern California. She only has ties to Nigeria by default as my best friend. So when I wanted to visit Nigeria... Naturally, I had to drag her along... Don't worry, she didn't mind at all, she had never been to Africa before.

After several visits to a few of the beaches in Lagos; we became aware of the plastic pollution haunting the beaches here. We couldn't stand watching the abundance of plastic pollution that lay on the coast lines of the Lagos beaches wash back and forth into the Atlantic ocean. The sour sight started to bother us personally; we realized we would be contributing to a global problem if we did not make a strong effort to promote recycling and awareness of plastic pollution within the city.

Our biggest obstacle is lack of awareness and knowledge. Nigerians need to be educated and informed about the importance and necessity of recycling and waste management and how it is imperative to mankind's well being. Old habits and resistance to change are probably the biggest obstacles to taking preventative and adaptation measures towards a cleaner nation; along with the lack of public awareness, pollution, damages in the marine environmentthese all contribute to the problem. A depressed economy, a low technology approach, high population growth, cultural beliefs, lack of livelihood opportunities, loss of holdings, youth development and aggression issuesall are obstacles to tackling the problem.

Developing a recycling system would produce job advancements that could help to overcome some of these obstacles, as could public education and government policies. But responding to the threats imposed by the countries waste on society, on flora and fauna, on ecosystems and bio-diversity appears to be a low government priority and so there is insufficient funding to encourage taking any positive action to promote the need for recycling or waste management in this country. There is a dearth of public policies that target adaptation, and those that do exist are inadequate. The Nigerian government must adopt strategies and policies now that will encourage the public as well as industries to adapt to a recycling system to everyone's benefit.

We are not a NGO or a NPO nor are we a part of one, we are not wealthy and have very little to contribute to our personal cause to start a clean up project in Lagos... Though our goal is a big one, we feel it can be accomplish with passion and genuine concern for people and the Environment. We plan to do all that is possible to initiate a recycling program in Lagos as well as promote awareness to school children through their youth programs; educate locals about recycling and waste management; develop a volunteer program and establish a NGO to maintain the objectives and goals to stop plastic pollution in the Atlantic ocean by way of Lagos beaches.
We know we can not accomplish this goal alone so we implore all the help we can get. But, we do not believe one must be a non profit to make a difference in this world or to ask for assistance from like minded people.

The Impact

The impact of recycling and waste management on Nigeria will be far-ranging. Especially felt will be the impact on water resources, and on the coastal zone and marine ecosystems of this country. About 80% of the coastal zone is threatened by pollutants and inundation, which spells doom for its inhabitants. Whole communities will be effected in the long-run, the end result the massive Eco problems that should develop will be dire.

It is obvious that unless we concern ourselves now, it will be too late to help Nigerian society take preventative measures, and we will end up being ill-equipped to deal with later.

That's where you come in... Just because the problem maybe four thousand miles away from you, does not mean that it does not affect you. One nations Eco problem eventually becomes a problem for every nation. Your participation makes a big difference in the change that can be done. Any suggestion or contribution that can be put towards resolving this issue is a step in battling a future disaster elsewhere (maybe even where you live). Please make this your concern because it technically already is... So do something about it.

What We Need & What You Get

Please support our project through your donations. We need to raise $2,500.00 to acquire legal assistance and register as a NGO to actually have more leverage in our campaign to promote recycling. We also need to create a website about our project with more information regarding our goals and plans for Lagos beaches. We have already started beach clean ups in Lagos and we are storing the plastic to be sent off to recycle plants overseas. However, all the things needed to get the project off the ground is exhausting to our budget and we can not get help elsewhere unless we are a valid NGO. It is urgent that we have the financial and volunteer resources needed to keep pursuing and expanding our project.

Other Ways You Can Help

Please spread the word and feel free to share this with everyone you know. Please make our goal apart of your goal! It literally will make a world of a difference.

There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet.  ~Brooke Medicine Eagle