Story & Background
Story
Our Founder at Operation 232 grew up in the Tengbeh town Community in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was a unique experience. Despite being one of the biggest informal settlement areas, the community was filled with warmth, friendly faces, and a strong sense of togetherness. However, alongside this beauty, he also witnessed the harsh realities of natural disasters caused by climate change due to improper waste management and the cutting down of trees.
One of the most devastating events he experienced was the mudflow that struck Sierra Leone on August 14, 2017. The relentless rainfall triggered a catastrophic mudslide that claimed the lives of over 1,000 individuals and displaced thousands more. Our Founder witnessed this tragedy firsthand deeply impacting him and stirred a strong desire for him to take action for environmental preservation and global sustainability. Instead of feeling defeated, Sylvester Weekes, our Founder saw this as an opportunity to make a difference. He realized the urgent need to address the underlying factors contributing to such climatic disasters and committed himself to initiatives that promote resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
As a team at Operation 232, we have embraced this vision. Through education, community engagement, and advocacy, we tirelessly raise awareness about proper waste management, the importance of environmental protection, and adopting sustainable practices. Our shared mission is to foster a harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, working to prevent future disasters that could devastate Tengbeh Town and other communities. Despite the immense challenges, the resilience and determination of community members fuel our efforts. Together, we are dedicated to driving meaningful change, creating a brighter and safer future for Tengbeh Town and beyond.
Background
Plastic pollution is a major challenge facing underdeveloped and developing countries in Africa due to a lack of appropriate waste management. As a result, during rainy seasons, discarded plastic debris is transported by rain water into waterways, rivers, and drainage systems. For instance, the capital city of Sierra Leone, Freetown, is struggling with the growing inflow of plastic. Waste management is at a very basic level or non-existent: Around 80% of the 40,600 tons/year of plastic waste is currently being dumped on streets and rivers, where it flows down to coastal communities and into the ocean. Overall, waste generation in the city is estimated to be 550.000 t/year (for 2021). It is estimated that Sierra Leone produces over 96,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually, and 84% is mismanaged. Institutional capacities in the Solid Waste Management (SWM) sector, control, and law enforcement mechanisms are weak. Waste generation is expected to surpass 1.000 t/day in 2030 and 2.000 t/day in 2050, assuming that no measures are taken to curb demographic growth and waste generation. The Aberdeen Lagoon (Sea) is a hotspot of this problem, where large amounts of plastic from Freetown end up. Subsequently, the plastics are washed away by the tide each day, ending in the Atlantic Ocean.
