Eqwal & GRET against pollution in Senegal

On this International Day of Charity, we are pleased to share with you the progress of a project that is particularly close to our hearts and to which we all contribute collectively at Eqwal Foundation.

This project was launched in December 2024 in partnership with GRET. This NGO is an international solidarity organization founded in 1976; its mission is to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations while preserving our planet and its resources.

The goal of Eqwal Foundation and GRET in this mission is to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling in Hann Bay, Senegal.

This two-year project is structured around three main stages:

• Conducting a participatory assessment to clearly identify priority actions, the areas most affected by pollution, and all local actors willing to get involved.
• Strengthening local actors, particularly their knowledge on the subject and their capacity to act and engage (through awareness sessions on the studies conducted).
• Finally, improving plastic waste collection, increasing recycling through dedicated facilities, and producing urban furniture from these materials.

This project relies primarily on the involvement of local residents. Far from being just a simple cleanup effort, it aims to mobilize local actors and raise awareness among the population about the pollution issues in Hann Bay, as well as the environmental and health challenges associated with plastic waste. It is a long-term project, designed to make residents sustainable actors in the protection of their environment and to ensure that the solutions implemented have a real and lasting impact.

This mission, carried out with the active participation of local actors, generates three major impacts:

• Raising awareness among residents about the issues related to plastic waste.
• Reducing the proliferation of microplastics that threaten biodiversity and health.
• Bringing the entire population together around a common goal: eliminating plastic pollution and sustainably improving the living environment along the coast.

This project is still in its early stages, but it already represents an important step toward cleaning up Hann Bay. The collective momentum it generates will allow for lasting results, beneficial both for the region and its inhabitants.