Support for founders in an important social and environmental quest in a world heritage site

I wish to draw my network’s attention to some critically important environmental rehabilitation work in and around the World Heritage site of Victoria Falls, in my childhood home of Zimbabwe.

Ele Collection is on a mission to remove all plastic from Victoria Falls. The initiative is led by co-founders Simon Teede, Ben Norton and Rainer von Urff-Kaufeld.

Ben is the son of Larry Norton, a world-renowned wildlife artist and conservationist, who for many years has called the Victoria Falls his home.

Larry and I went to school together at Prince Edward School in Harare. Other than being an incredibly talented artist, Larry is one of this world’s great gentlemen, and I have fond memories of him and the leadership he demonstrated as our school’s head boy.

The town of Victoria Falls in the far north-west of Zimbabwe hosts 800,000 tourists a year. Tourism is vital to the livelihood of the Victoria Falls region, but as tourism increases, so too does the waste that is created by the tourists themselves, and the growing population that services them. As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Zimbabweans are proud to share this incredible beauty with the world. However, it's critical to return the destination to pristine condition after decades of damage.

Ele-Collection is committed to setting up a processing plant that recycles ALL plastic into building aggregate that can be used in buildings, roads, and construction. Ele-Collection is also buying plastic from the community by the kilogram thereby creating a widespread community clean-up that brings income to those that need it most. The founders have created a short documentary that showcases the urgent need for action, and the hair-raising story that led them to understand the link between a growing spate of fatal attacks on the local population by elephants and wildlife suffering from "plastic poisoning".

"We will address the issues that plastic is causing around Victoria Falls Waterfall by building a pilot plastic processing plant using a unique repurposing technology. If we succeed in Victoria Falls, this idea will scale across the region. Our ambition is to remove plastic from the spectacular KAZA region — a combined conservation area which crosses five African countries and includes the Okavango Delta".

Having grown up in this land, I know how difficult a task they have set out to solve. But their impact is tangible. Let’s come together and support these brave and innovative young people, be it through donations, networking, technical support, or by spreading important social awareness.  

Should you wish to find out more, see the contact details supplied at the end of the story, or DM me, and I’ll put you directly in touch with the founders.