50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA THE SADC GENDER PROTOCOL SUMMIT 2014 CLIMATE CHANGE South Africa, Mossel Bay, April 2014, Haylene Claassen

50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA SYNOPSIS The Recycle Swop Shop project is an empowerment initiative for the community whereby they are given the opportunity to help themselves by collecting recyclable items such as tins, plastic and paper and then swop it for personal and household items. Recycle swop shops opened in Mossel Bay and Great Brak River with the MEC Dan Plato, councillors and community members.

OBJECTIVES The Recycle Swop Shop project allows people to provide for themselves and their families. Encouraging responsibility and ownership. Teaching people the values of recycling and caring for the environment. Igniting a belief that people are able to add value to their community and themselves. Cleaning the community and instilling pride in their neighbourhood. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

BACKGROUND Research was conducted by the Mossel Bay Municipality together with the Department of Community Services and illegal dumping was identified as a problem and Recycle Swop Shops was established. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA The recycle swop shop is solely based on volunteerism from people within the immediate community.

KEY ACTIVITIES People fill up blue bags of recyclable waste that is lying around the streets in informal settlements. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

KEY ACTIVITIES Continue… Full bags are weighed and sorted by volunteers and tokens are given out for each bag brought. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

KEY ACTIVITIES Continue… 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA The tokens allow the community to exchange recyclables for clothes, food, toiletries and household items.

RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA GENDER SPECIFIC ALLOCATION :GENDER IN MAINSTREAM PROJECTS Amount local currency (South African Rand) Recycle swop shop (Rental of containers) R CONTRIBUTIONS BY OTHER ORGANISATIONS/ PARTNERS Mossel Bay MunicipalityR GMC Price moneyR Casino TrustR ShopriteToiletries AfrofishingTinned Fish TOTALR

BENEFICIARIES 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA CATEGORYWOMENMENTOTAL % WOMEN Beneficiaries %

CHALLENGES Proper funds to ensure the flow of products in the recycle shop remains a huge challenge. Continued sponsorships remains a challenge. Proper space needs to be made available for placement of containers. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

HOW CHALLENGES WERE OVERCOME 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Buy-in of local businesses. Projects endorsed by local and regional recycling companies. Close working relationship between field workers and Municipality. Forming of internal partnerships.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION A recording system is in place for each product swopped for recyclables. Recyclables are weighed and a token is allocated with points for use at the swop shop. Monthly reports are being provided to Council enabling Council to see the impact of the project. Weekly visits to the swop shop. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT Women are informed about opportunities. Women are able to be independent and provide food on their tables. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

MEN FOR CHANGE Both volunteers working at the Swop shops are men. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Residents were informed of the initiative. An open drive in the area where the swop shop is located and volunteers were recruited. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA Door to door campaigns to determine recycling patterns of households. Articles were placed in local newspapers.

CHANGES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL The residents are now familiarized with recycling. Normal waste is minimized. The environment is cleaner. Dignity of people have been restored. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

TESTAMONIALS 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

OUTREACH THROUGH THE MEDIA Articles were placed in local newspapers and municipal newsletters to encourage residents and businesses to sponsor products for the swop shops. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

MEDIA 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

OUTCOMES 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA WESTERN CAPE WINNER: MOSSEL BAY MUNICIPALITY Creating clean living spaces. Exploring avenues for job opportunities. Restoring community pride. Creating a greener municipality.

CAPACITY BUILDING Volunteers were trained before commencing their jobs at the swop shops. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

CHANGES IN ATTITUDES Better relationships between neighbours. People are taking ownership. People are encouraged to keep recycling. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

LESSON LEARNED AND INNOVATION Community takes ownership. Willingness of community to recycle. Community refrain from illegal dumping thus keeping their area clean. Community realise that they contribute to a greener environment. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

LEARNING AND SHARING WITH PARTNERS Partnerships are formed with local businesses and role-players.  Partnership between the Mossel Bay Municipality, Waste and Pollution and Social Development departments. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION Project are sustained through funding and building good relationships with stakeholders. The projects are being cascaded to other organisations through mentoring sessions. Commitment of volunteers that run the swop shop. Continuous training with community on recycling. 50/50 BY 2015: DEMANDING A STRONG POST 2015 AGENDA

Thank you MOSSEL BAY MUNICIPALITY HAYLENE CLAASSEN