About Women In Recycling Foundation
Empowering women through sustainable waste management and recycling initiatives to create lasting economic and environmental change.
Empowering Women Through Sustainable Solutions
The Women In Recycling Foundation (WORF) is a Non-Government Organization with Registration No. ooNGO/R/1622 based in Tanzania, dedicated to empowering women, girls, and youth through sustainable waste management and circular economy initiatives.
Established to address the intersection of environmental challenges and gender inequality, WORF focuses on transforming waste into valuable resources while creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
Founded in 2021
Transforming communities through sustainable practices
Fostering a Sustainable Environment
The Women In Recycling Foundation is on a mission to foster a sustainable environment, particularly for women, including girls, young women and women with disabilities, by promoting gender-inclusive waste management systems. We are dedicated to equipping women with the skills they need to address the challenges posed by waste management, recycling, and climate change. Our mission is to empower women, promote environmental sustainability, and contribute to climate resilience through effective waste management and recycling practices.
Our Vision
A sustainable society where waste pollution is non-existent, and gender equality is a reality.
What We Strive For
Our objectives guide our programs and initiatives to create meaningful impact that transforms communities and protects our environment.
Empowering Women
We empower women in local communities to take charge of waste management and recycling initiatives, creating opportunities for economic and environmental growth. Our focus is particularly on those living below the poverty line, ensuring they gain financial independence.
Climate Resilience
We recognize the significant impact of climate change, and through our work, we contribute to climate resilience by promoting sustainable waste management practices. Our initiatives help communities adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Gender Equality
Gender equality is at the heart of our organization. We strive to break down barriers and ensure that women, especially those with disabilities, have equal access to waste management education and opportunities. We create inclusive spaces for all women to thrive.
Advocating for Change
We advocate for policies and regulations that prioritize environmental sustainability, waste management, and gender equality in the context of climate change. Our advocacy work aims to create systemic changes for long-term impact.
How We Create Change
We believe in a holistic approach that addresses both environmental and social challenges to create sustainable solutions.
Community-Centered Engagement
We actively involve communities in our programs, ensuring local participation and ownership of initiatives.
Capacity Building
We provide training and skills development to empower women with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.
Environmental Protection
Our initiatives promote sustainable practices that protect the environment and reduce waste pollution.
Economic Empowerment
We create opportunities for women to generate income through recycling and waste management activities.
Advocacy and Policy Influence
We advocate for policies and regulations that support women's participation in waste management and environmental conservation.
Sustainability and Monitoring
We ensure the long-term viability of our programs through continuous monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation.
Our Five-Pillar Approach
The Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF) employs a holistic and sustainable model to empower women, girls, and youth through innovative approaches to waste management and economic development.
Engage
We actively involve communities, women, and youth to foster awareness and participation in waste management initiatives.
Engagement includes educational campaigns, workshops, and community-driven activities to inspire collective action toward sustainability.
Develop
We provide comprehensive training programs that equip women and youth with practical skills in recycling, waste management, and green entrepreneurship.
Our programs focus on capacity building, enabling participants to create innovative solutions and establish micro-enterprises.
Empower
WORF offers financial literacy training, resource mobilization, and access to funding opportunities to help participants build sustainable businesses.
Empowerment ensures financial independence and the ability to scale their operations.
Connect
We establish market linkages for recycled products, partnering with local and international stakeholders to create steady demand and economic opportunities.
WORF also facilitates networking opportunities to connect participants with mentors, investors, and collaborators.
Thrive/Sustain
Sustainability is central to our model. We implement ongoing monitoring and adaptation of programs to ensure long-term environmental and economic impact.
WORF promotes policies and practices that enable participants to thrive in their businesses while contributing to a healthier environment.
Our Growth Timeline
From our humble beginnings to our current impact, see how we've grown over the years.
Foundation Established
Women In Recycling Foundation was officially established to address the dual challenges of women's economic empowerment and environmental sustainability.
TAMWA Participation
Invited by TAMWA to participate in a discussion on gender equality, aired on ITV and sponsored by TAMWA and UN WOMEN.
Beach Cleanup Success
Conducted a beach cleanup at Msasani beach with partners, collecting 490 kg of plastic waste and 10 kg of glass bottles.
Women in Circular Economy
Launched the Women in Circular Economy program in Makangarawe with 80 women participants, focusing on waste management and recycling skills.
Expanded Impact
Empowered 120 women organized into 12 groups, increased daily income from $2 to $3, and diverted 55 tons of waste from landfills.
Future Goals
Scaling our programs and impact to other regions, leveraging innovation to further our mission and expand our reach.
Our Team
Our dedicated team brings diverse expertise and a shared passion for creating positive change in our communities.
Hellena Sailas
Executive Director
Hellena Sailas is the Executive Director of the Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF). She is a social entrepreneur and environmental leader with extensive experience in the circular economy, women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods. She leads WORF’s strategy, partnerships and programmes, supporting women and young people to develop green skills, build enterprises and participate meaningfully in environmental solutions.
Maria Daudi
Executive Coordination Officer
Maria Daudi is the Executive Coordination Officer at the Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF). She works closely with the Executive Director to coordinate strategic priorities, stakeholder engagements, meetings and internal communication. She also supports programme implementation, documentation and follow-up on management decisions, helping ensure activities are delivered efficiently across the organisation.
Doreen Faustine
Head of Programs
Doreen Faustine is the Head of Programs at the Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF). She leads programme planning, implementation and reporting, ensuring that activities respond to the needs of women and young people. She works closely with communities, partners and the WORF team to deliver impactful initiatives in recycling, green technology, entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability.
Unosye Atufigwege
Communication Officer
Unosye Atufigwege is the Communications Officer at the Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF). She supports the organisation’s communications, storytelling and public engagement by documenting programme activities, developing digital content and sharing the experiences and achievements of women and young people. She helps strengthen WORF’s visibility and communicate its impact to communities, partners and the wider public.
Kichele James
Operations,Compliance and M&E Manager
Kichele James is the Operations, Compliance and Monitoring & Evaluation Manager at the Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF). He oversees organisational operations, regulatory and donor compliance, data management and performance monitoring. He supports programme teams to maintain accurate records, measure results, identify areas for improvement and ensure activities are implemented efficiently and in accordance with established policies and partner requirements.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Discover how we're making a difference in our communities and how you can be a part of our journey toward environmental sustainability and women's empowerment.