The Global Shapers Accra Hub under The Climate Reality Incubator programme has upcycled and reused over 3.6 tonnes of plastic waste in the coastal community of La in the Greater Accra Region. 

Schoolchildren from the South La Estate Primary School, numbering 391 were engaged in a hands-on climate education, under the Trashformed Initiative. Groundwork Africa Foundation and the World Movers Team were partnership in the project. 

These young ones were trained into changemakers to transform waste into an opportunity for education, empowerment, and environmental action. 

The Initiative spearheaded by Diane Akuffo, with a dedicated team comprising Charlene Asiedu, Emele Arthur - Hayford, Robert Dzudzor, Kwesi Gyan, and Immaculata King took a grassroots, community-led approach to combat Ghana’s plastic pollution crisis. 

Over five months, the team implemented a weekly plastic waste collection system in a local school, recovering 175 kg of plastic each week, totaling approximately 3,500 kg of plastic waste all diverted from potential landfills and waterways.

One of the project’s key highlights was a beach cleanup near Tawala Beach with 140 Class 6 learners, during which 298 kg of waste was collected, including 112 kg of plastic and 12 kg of glass. 

The exercise also revealed widespread non-collectible Styrofoam, highlighting persistent waste challenges that require long-term solutions. 

The Trashformed Initiative went beyond the cleanup. Working with local artisans, the team upcycled over 50 kg of used polyvinyl chloride banners i.e PVC-based banners into 140 durable school bags for the 140 schoolchildren that received a specialized training.

Post-training assessments showed an average climate knowledge score of 78%, reflecting the impact of immersive, child-centered learning.

The lead of the Trashformed Initiative, Diane Akuffo explained that the initiative was carefully crafted to serve as model for youth-led innovation to  “inspire communities, build circular systems, and empower the next generation of climate leaders.”

“Trashformed Initiative isn't just a project, it is a movement that shows that young people, given the right tools, can lead meaningful change in their communities”, she concluded