Michael Omondi, age 20, is a Planeteer, Scout, and Tide Turner who is addressing the plastic pollution crisis in his community in Nairobi, Kenya. His passion for environmental action began a few years ago as a Scout, and his focus on plastics took off when his Scout leader announced the troop would be participating in the Plastic Tide Turners Challenge.
With his fellow Scout troop members, Michael participated in the Advanced Plastic Policy training offered by the Planeteer Alliance in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2023. This experience inspired him to take further action by joining the Tide Turners Plastic Policy Champion Cohort conducted through a partnership with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Captain Planet Foundation. Through his participation in this program, Michael and his team are implementing their campaigns to turn the tide on plastic in their community.
He explains that his campaign is focused on, “educating the community at large that plastic can be reused, not just dumped.” He believes that this shift in community mindset will make people more aware of the issue and more willing to be part of the solution.
On April 13, 2024, Michael and his Scout team hosted the Kamukunji Scout River Cleanup which gathered more than 40 Scouts and other members of the community, to collect trash along the river banks. In this one clean-up, Michael and his team gathered 17 bags of improperly discarded plastic. Michael noticed that the most commonly littered plastic products were cups, often used for coffee.
Asked about what he has observed through his work in tackling the plastic crisis, Michael reports seeing incredible change taking place in his own community. He was inspired when the environmental council in his community in Kenya worked to transform a dumping site into a community park. “Work like this is so encouraging,” says Michael, “because it exemplifies the ways in which areas can be transformed and reimagined.”
Michael credits UNEP Tide Turners and Planeteer Alliance for offering the opportunities for him to grow his knowledge and understanding of the climate crisis, as well as the dangers of plastic pollution. “What I have learned most is how to get those around me interested and involved in these issues — how to engage my community members and encourage them to join the cause.”
In the future, Michael hopes to design a new way of repurposing plastic waste and reimagining it into something beautiful. He plans to continue to be involved in and lead efforts to clean up the earth.
“Everyday action matters. Be part of the solution, not pollution.”