Outreach at Agbogbloshie empowering recyclers and local communities with safer, informed practices.
Agbogbloshie's informal recycling economy is powered by thousands of people — many of them young, many of them unaware of the toxic exposure that comes with burning cable insulation or breaking down old electronics by hand. Our outreach team works directly inside the scrapyard, not from behind a desk.
Each session starts with listening. Before we hand anyone a pamphlet, we ask what recyclers already know, what protective gear they've tried, and what's stopped them from using it. That conversation shapes everything that follows — from the language on our safety guides to the order in which we introduce new practices.
We then walk through practical, low-cost changes: safer sorting methods that avoid open burning, basic protective equipment, and simple habits — like handwashing stations and designated eating areas — that measurably reduce exposure. None of it requires waiting on a formal recycling facility to get built; it starts today, with the people already doing the work.
Small-group conversations surface what recyclers already know and what barriers stand in the way of safer practices.
Visual guides and hands-on demonstrations replace dense text, so the message lands regardless of literacy level.
We return on a regular schedule, tracking what's sticking and adjusting materials based on real feedback.