Raphael Basemi's recycling business is providing jobs for other refugees and the host community and helping preserve the environment in Kenya's Kakuma camp.
"When I look at this plastic, I see a precious material, an employment opportunity for my community, a source of wealth, and a chance to support my family," he says. It was while studying for a Business Management degree in the capital, Nairobi, that he struck on the idea for a recycling project that would allow him to generate income to support his family and preserve the environment.
"The first month was a trial-and-error period. We didn't have money to pay the collectors. After one month, some dropped out, but that did not stop me." UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other partners, helped Raphael to establish a shop in the Kakuma Incubation Centre - a UNHCR-funded economic development initiative that supports start-up businesses. There he sells items made from the plastic he recycles such as pegs, buttons, rulers, plates, and cups.