Benson Abila
Founder & Director, Homeless of Kisumu & M-taka
Bold Question: What if recycling culture improved the livelihoods of waste workers?
Pathway to Metis: Benson is a dynamic social entrepreneur and sustainability advocate driven by creating a positive impact in communities. With over five years of experience in fundraising and partnerships management in the non-profit sector, he has developed a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities in creating sustainable change.
Inspired by the dedication of his grandmother and mother, who were committed to supporting vulnerable children and women, he founded Homeless of Kisumu; a non-profit organization supporting street-connected families and vulnerable youth and women with a vision to bring back dignity to their humanity.
As a civil engineer, he witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of mismanaged waste on communities while working on the Nairobi Dam pollution. This experience fueled his determination to tackle this challenge. Through his work at Homeless of Kisumu, he discovered that 80% of the street-connected individuals supported were waste workers. Driven by his passion to improve their livelihoods and create a clean and healthy environment, He set out to innovate a solution.
M-taka is a social enterprise to revolutionize waste management through technology. The mission is to educate communities, foster a recycling culture, and recognize the pivotal role of waste workers in creating a healthier future. By dignifying waste work and addressing the low recycling rates in Kenya (e.g.plastics recycling rates currently stand at 8%.) M-taka seeks to uplift livelihoods and contribute to a sustainable world.
“Together, we have the potential to make a lasting impact by inspiring change and creating a better future for generations to come.”
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