Training and Education
we tap into Africa’s circular economy potential, training the next generation of innovators, heritage recyclers and boat-building technical experts
Heritage training centre and courses
In 2022, we opened up Flipflopi’s Heritage Training Centre. The training centre was set up to teach practical circular economy skills whilst preserving the indigenous craftsmanship of furniture-making and boatbuilding.
A 12-week course was designed and piloted in 2022. In 2023, the course was accredited and incorporated into Lamu’s Vocational Training Institute and to-date 84 students have completed courses (of whom 30% are women).
Community-centred solutions
We are putting the local community at the heart of our approach, through household waste management programmes and providing training to build our communities capacity to better manage and reduce the disproportionate burden of plastic pollution carried by lower income communities.
An independent study ranked our model as having the highest health gain of all assessed projects, with a projected life gain of 24 years for every 1000 tons of recycled plastic.
EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE
From marine litter research to qualitative social surveys, and continuous R&D, we are building sustainable and replicable solutions through informed and inclusive decision making.
On the Lake Victoria expedition 2021, our scientific partners conducted the first-ever surface-to-deep water study of microplastics in this undiscovered freshwater ecosystem.
On our 3rd expedition in 2022, we conducted the first ever macro and micro (surface to deep water) marine litter study in the Lamu archipelago, home to almost 50% of Kenya's coastline.
Educational resources
We developed educational materials and toolkits that help inspire people to start their own circular economy projects and businesses, as well as making our boatbuilding process open-source.
Artivism
We are proud of our ‘artivist’ roots and see the power of creativity to engage and influence. We work with talented artists like Arinitwe Peter (Uganda) and musicians like Muthoni Drummer Queen, John Udulele, Sandra Suubi, Juliani, Navio and Loko band to spread our message in East Africa.
Flipflopi partners with like-minded community-based organisations around the East African Coast and Lake Victoria to support sustainable waste management & recycling centres that serve the community.
Learn about our partners in Mwanza, Tanzania (EMEDO) and Kampala, Uganda (Plastik Talks)
Award-winning content
We have made several films over the years to raise awareness of plastic pollution and solutions around Africa. ‘Pieces of Us’ - released in 2021 was awarded 1st place in the My Hero International Film Festival 2022. Plastic: A Second Life made it to National Geographic’s Short Film Showcase in 2019.
We also published our first children’s book in 2023 thanks to children’s author Linda Ravin Lodding, our very own Dipesh Pabari, and the magic of illustrator Michael Machira Mwangi (Beaming Books, 2023) which recently won the CABA award.