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NOUVEL

Make Money with Plastic: It's Possible
La Nouvelliste (Haitian Paper - story in French)

In Haiti, plastic waste is part of Haiti's exports. In provincial cities such as Port-au-Prince, many fathers and mothers are engaged in the collection of plastic waste. They sell them to local companies that export them all over the world. If companies in this sector praise their contribution to the cleansing of our streets, they call for a public-private partnership for a sustainable solution to the problem of waste.

After months of planning, we sent a team of qualified individuals to start the conversation in Haiti. We had been fully aware how dangerous it might be. To mitigate some of the risk, we hired a driver for the week to take the team to various recycling facilities, university, schools, and  a children's rescue facility...

July will make four months since the last work trip. I am already planning my next work trip to Haiti. This time I will have with me Erin Danford, one of KBR’s board members. Erin is going to Haiti for one week, and we are very excited about it.  She will be working on a documentary that will talk about the difficulties the street collectors are facing while doing their work... 

This trip was hard from the beginning, with obstacles popping up along each step of the work. The beginning of the trip was marked by a violent, traumatic event that left one person dead and all others injured.  I thank all of you for continued interest, support, and trust in my work and in the development and improvement of Haiti...

"Improving quality of life in Haiti is a cause very close to Blada’s heart. He grew up in Haiti, and moved to North Carolina with his wife several years ago. Since then, he has grown his startup to employ more than 65 Haitians, and the women involved have picked up 65,000 pounds of plastic off the streets of Hinche..."

Recommended Nonprofits
SeaSource Group

"So, here is my curated list of some folks who are protecting the ocean and the creatures that maintain its balance: Kay Blada Recycling. Based out of Snow Camp, NC and directed by Haitian native Johnson Desauguste (aka Blada), Kay Blada seeks to solve Haiti’s severe plastic waste problem while also creating local jobs and educating the public about the benefits of recycling..."

"Johnson Desauguste created Kay Blada Recycling in 2015. Like Saxy villagers, he knows the creative value of community and the impact direct action can have on the quality of life anywhere. On October 22nd (this Sunday!), Gabe Pelli and Will Ridenour are performing  at the Haw River Ballroom to support Kay Blada Recycling in Haiti. The show starts at 3pm!..."

“The recycling facility down in Haiti has no power," Danford said. "It’s in an area of a rural town that can't be connected to the power grid. We are partnering with United Solar Initiative, another organization on campus. They agreed to donate solar panels if we donate 20 percent of the cost...”

"What has been the most meaningful experience you’ve had at — or related to — UNC? Erin: At the start of my sophomore year, I began working with a non-profit called Kay Blada Recycling. Working with Kay Blada Recycling has opened my eyes to the change that one person can make with enough effort and perseverance, and also helped me realize that I want to pursue a career in non-profits. It has easily been the most rewarding experience I have had at UNC..."

Kay Blada Resiklaj

(336) 684-0432

Lokalize: Hinche, Haiti ak Chapel Hill, NC

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