From Waste to Hope: Ibrahim’s Story

When Ibrahim first began experimenting with waste management, many around him—including family and friends—doubted him.

“They asked if anyone could really make a living from waste,” he recalls.

But Ibrahim believed there was something more. Guided by a desire to help others and use his skills, he found his way to the Kitega Community Centre through Rukia—a VICOBAPlus member and leader—who recognized the value of his work. She encouraged him to bring his innovations to the Centre, where he was welcomed not only as a guest but as a partner.

“I had no fear,” Ibrahim says. “From the moment I arrived, I knew I was in the right place. The Centre believed in me, appreciated what I was doing, and completely opened the door for me.”

Soon, he joined the church and community mobilisation group, then VICOBAPlus—where members encouraged him to train others and later to become a member himself. That step changed everything.

Transforming Waste, Transforming Lives

Today, Ibrahim is at the heart of waste management and enterprise development at Kitega. He has trained children and young people with disabilities in recycling and briquette-making, helping them gain skills and independence. He has worked alongside VICOBAPlus groups to turn waste into sustainable charcoal briquettes, an innovation now spreading across the community.

But his vision didn’t stop at briquettes. Inspired by the potential of organic waste, Ibrahim began making manure and using it to grow vegetables at the Centre. Together with the children, he planted gardens that now feed the community and serve as classrooms for learning sustainable farming.

“People are discovering that even with little land—or just a verandah or house shade—you can grow food,” he explains. “Waste is not a problem, it is an opportunity for both income and food security.”

Looking Ahead

Ibrahim dreams of establishing a learning hub where people can gather, share knowledge, and become agents of change. His vision is bold: a future where waste enterprises like briquette-making and urban farming grow into large-scale factories and gardens, bringing together VICOBAPlus members, children with disabilities, and the wider community.

“Together, we can make it bigger,” he says with a smile.

VICOBAPlus in Action
Rukia saw Ibrahim’s good work, welcomed him to Kitega, and helped him share it with others. That’s the VICOBAPlus way.

• Mindset shift: see potential, not problems.

• Start with what we have: use local skills & waste.

• Togetherness: walk with others; learn & teach.

• Replication: open doors so many can do it too.

• Dignity: include children & persons with disabilities.

What Rukia did:

1. Noticed Ibrahim’s gift.

2. Connected him to Kitega & VICOBAPlus.

3. Opened doors for training and membership.

“Leadership is spotting potential and sharing the chance to grow.”