The developed recycling center in Kattamia also
includes a cultural center for workers who want to “learn and
earn” so that they could benefit developmentally as well as
economically. While APE’s primary goal has been the improvement of the lives
and the livelihoods of the garbage collecting community, the
approach that it took encompassed far more than just practical help
and resulted in something that is often missing once outside help
leaves – sustainability.
In acting as an intermediary between the Zabbaleen and critical
resources in the public sector, APE volunteers became emotionally
and physically invested in the Zabbaleen communities. That
investment, which underscored human development as APE's main objective,
advanced the goal for long-term sustainability by providing the
communities it served with the communication and leadership skills
they needed for personal development (Ford KC, 2003). In addition,
this emotional and physical involvement helped APE to successfully alter the mindset of the Zabbaleen when it later
became necessary for them to be separated from their garbage
collection activities.
Sewing and Clothes Production Unit
This program started its
activities in March 2002 as an income-generating
project for young women to help them to learn a
skill and acquire an alternative source of income.
The project aims at improving the livelihood of
young women and to help them integrate into the
wider community.
The composting plant at APE began
with recycling organic pig manure into high grade
compost, which in turn was sold to re-claimers of
desert lands and agriculturists. This project
allowed the residents of the neighborhood to clean
out their pig sites on a regular basis and not let
such unhealthy waste pile up in their homes, thus
reducing the health hazards to the household. The
income earned from the sale of the compost was
directed to a community-based health project, an
income-generating project (Rug recycling for girls
and women) and literacy classes, as well as field
trips and recreation.
The regular disposal of animal waste from residents'
homes makes their dwellings cleaner places. In 1991, the number of homes cleaned out by
APE was 26. In 1993, 256 homes participated
in that scheme. If the association were not to
engage in this activity, residents of the Mokattam
garbage settlement would either postpone cleaning
out their animal pens until the environment became
hazardous to human health, or enlist the services of
a private contractor who charges exploitative rates
for the service of cleaning out organic manure and
transporting it outside the settlement. Since the crude
compost contains harmful bacteria to the land, APE
carries out farmer education outreach to inform
garbage collectors
about the hazards of using crude organic waste.
A centre for training and
the production of recycling machines was established in
1998 to provide opportunities and employment for
unemployed and marginalized youth. The centre
designs and produces machines for recycling
solid waste, and provides many employment
opportunities.
Kattamia
The developed recycling center in Kattamia also includes a cultural center for workers who want to “learn and earn” so that they could benefit developmentally as well as economically. While APE’s primary goal has been the improvement of the lives and the livelihoods of the garbage collecting community, the approach that it took encompassed far more than just practical help and resulted in something that is often missing once outside help leaves – sustainability.
In acting as an intermediary between the Zabbaleen and critical resources in the public sector, APE volunteers became emotionally and physically invested in the Zabbaleen communities. That investment, which underscored human development as APE's main objective, advanced the goal for long-term sustainability by providing the communities it served with the communication and leadership skills they needed for personal development (Ford KC, 2003). In addition, this emotional and physical involvement helped APE to successfully alter the mindset of the Zabbaleen when it later became necessary for them to be separated from their garbage collection activities.
Sewing and Clothes Production Unit
This program started its activities in March 2002 as an income-generating project for young women to help them to learn a skill and acquire an alternative source of income. The project aims at improving the livelihood of young women and to help them integrate into the wider community.
Organic Composting Unit
The composting plant at APE began with recycling organic pig manure into high grade compost, which in turn was sold to re-claimers of desert lands and agriculturists. This project allowed the residents of the neighborhood to clean out their pig sites on a regular basis and not let such unhealthy waste pile up in their homes, thus reducing the health hazards to the household. The income earned from the sale of the compost was directed to a community-based health project, an income-generating project (Rug recycling for girls and women) and literacy classes, as well as field trips and recreation.
The regular disposal of animal waste from residents' homes makes their dwellings cleaner places. In 1991, the number of homes cleaned out by APE was 26. In 1993, 256 homes participated in that scheme. If the association were not to engage in this activity, residents of the Mokattam garbage settlement would either postpone cleaning out their animal pens until the environment became hazardous to human health, or enlist the services of a private contractor who charges exploitative rates for the service of cleaning out organic manure and transporting it outside the settlement. Since the crude compost contains harmful bacteria to the land, APE carries out farmer education outreach to inform garbage collectors about the hazards of using crude organic waste.
Planting
Recycling Machinery Production and Training Unit
A centre for training and the production of recycling machines was established in 1998 to provide opportunities and employment for unemployed and marginalized youth. The centre designs and produces machines for recycling solid waste, and provides many employment opportunities.