b'T TR RO OP PE ER RN L 0 2 A U N N A 1 R 2 4 E V I T R A A T N V 1 R A I E 4 2 0 2 A R A N N U A LByZukiswa Allah,By Maru CastaedaProgram Manager, Trash to Treasure, Operations Manager, N4 MxicoN4 AfricaIn August of this year, a dreamreason, when the teachers hear Narrative 4 Africas (N4 Africa)placing them in strategic loca- books at no cost to TTT. TheIve had for several years came what N4 is about and experience Trash to Treasure (TTT) begantions so that people can see howlibrary adds a lot of color andto life: Narrative 4 Mxico (N4the story exchange, their eyes as a recycling program, wherewe are reusing waste and turningample impact to all who use it,Mxico). For a dream to comeshow appreciation for the fact residents of the Joe Slovo Town- it into something beautiful. Weespecially the children. Weretrue, you must have all the neces- that N4 exists. They have told me ship in Port Elizabeth, Southhave also collected old tires, also able to deliver books tosary elements, and for that dreamthat they once again believe that Africa, could exchange refuseturning them into chairs and children in the surroundingto grow, you must have lots ofthis world could be better, thanks and recyclables for vouchers toplant pots. Such TTT projectsareas, saving them long walksenergy. In the past few months,to a group of people like us. As buy groceries. In the last year,help to educate our people aboutfrom their neighborhoods to theIve seen the pieces of this dreamN4 Mxico touches the lives of the scope and impact of the TTTenvironmental consciousness.TTT centre.come together: the translation ofteachers, a change in attitude program has far exceeded whatIn addition torecycling, theOur community has about anN4 one-pagers and videos intocan be felt and their desire to we originally envisioned. TTT centre serves as a site for80% unemployment rate, so weSpanish, in-depth research onbring N4 to the classroom grows. The TTT project is located incommunity meetings, Covidare very pleased to report thatthe socio-emotional skills of theIn just a few months, we have the center of Nkandla, whichvaccinations, and is home to ourthe centre has employed 9 peo- ministry of education in Mxico,managed to sow a seed of hu-forms part of Joe Slovo Township.community garden. The centreple on long-term contracts andthe creation of programs adaptedmanity thatwill continue to blos-We are currently serving aboutalso runs aftercare classes forabout 30 people on short-termto the Mexican culture, in-depthsom. My goal is for every school 360 immediate households perkids in the community, and wecontracts. Weve fostered sever- research of potential schools,in Mexico, private or public, to week in Nkandla alone. We collectrecently established an on-siteal relationships with communitythe development of N4 Mxicoshave access to N4 programming. more than 74 tons of plastic bot- library. leaders, schools, other NGOs,social media channels, and theI know it is an ambitious dream, tles, cardboard, paper, and cansPrior to TTTs existence, Nk- and local companies, includingcreation of a dedicated N4 Mxi- but my father always told me,begun its work in Tampico and of soft drinks every month, that andla and the surrounding com- small black businesses in ourco team. You can see the passionWhen you dream, dream big.Monterrey, my hope is that these is about 1000 kgs of waste. munities did not have access to communities. We hope and praywe have for what we do: BringingWith the help of the great teamsmalls steps will soon allow us to Weve repurpsed this collecteda library. Thanks to a generousthat these relationships will helppeople together through their lifethat supports me, I will be able togrow throughout Mexico. waste for several projects. Usingdonation from ArtWorks forsupport the further developmentstories. achieve this dream. However, one bottletops, we created billboards,Youth, we received 90% of ourand growth of our community. Unfortunately, the schoolsthing that Ive learned in my life in my country lack programs is the importance of taking small focused on the socio-emotionalsteps, before trying to run at fullaspect of being human. For thisspeed. So, while N4 Mxico has In addition torecycling, the TTT centre serves as a site for community meetings, Covid vaccinations, and is home to our community garden.The centre also runs aftercare classes for kids in the community, and In just a few months, we have managed to sow a seed ofwe recently established an on-site library. humanity that will continue to blossom.22 23'