Young designers in Burundi are using fashion to promote recycling and raise awareness about environmental pollution through an initiative known as the “Kamenge Drop” in northern Bujumbura. Held at the Kamenge Youth Centre, the project brought together 12 young designers for a ten-day training program led by designer and artist Manuela Minka during Green Diplomacy Week. Participants learned to transform discarded materials, including plastic waste and old mosquito nets, into creative fashion pieces. The programme culminated in a fashion show where the young designers presented their collections, demonstrating how materials commonly thrown away can be repurposed into attractive and potentially marketable products.
“Recycling allows us to see that if we look at a bottle or waste differently, we can transform it,” Minka explained, emphasising the need to protect the environment. For participant Arsène Irakoze, the initiative also highlighted the economic potential of recycling. He said discarded materials could be turned into different products that generate income. The show also inspired audience members, particularly young people, to consider creative ways of reusing waste and explore possible careers in fashion. Although recycling remains underdeveloped in Burundi despite various initiatives, projects such as the Kamenge Drop demonstrate how youth training and creative industries can help promote environmental responsibility while opening up opportunities for entrepreneurship.
