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• Overview
• Vision, Mission & Objectives
• Major Achievements
• Strategy & Action Plan

About SOS Addis

Overview

The goal of SOS Addis is to improve the environment of Addis Ababa, with focus on plastic waste (especially plastic bags or "festal") and air pollution. What is unique about SOS Addis is that we see this challenge as an opportunity - to create livelihood for financially disadvantaged women in environment-related work, such as in collection of countless plastic bags from streets for recycling and in production of eco-friendly bags to replace the plastic bags. SOS Addis also believes that by working together with these women who spend a long time in the polluted neighborhood, we would also be able to raise awareness and influence the behaviors of other members of the polluted neighborhood.

Download the leaflet of SOS Addis .

Vision, Mission & Objectives

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Vision

SOS Addis envisions a plastic waste and air pollution free Ethiopia.

Mission

Create community awareness on environmental hazards of plastic waste/air pollution in partnership with concerned stakeholders, and create livelihood in relation to environment for vulnerable members of the community, especially women.

1. Increase community awareness on the impacts of plastic waste/air pollution to realize clean and healthy environment.
2. To facilitate alternative means of plastic waste management.
3. To create environment-related livelihood for vulnerable members of the community, especially women.
4. Partner with concerned stakeholders to promote an environment free from plastic waste/air pollution.
5. To influence government policy/programs towards the reduction of plastic waste and air pollution.

Major Achievements

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In its short history, SOS Addis has made significant differences, especially in the area of pollution by flimsy plastic bags. Here are some of the major achievements of SOS Addis:

• Plastic Waste Collection & Recycling
  • Collected 83,850kg of plastic waste for recycling between years 2006 - 2007, earning 117,415 Birr.
  • Job opportunity for 80+ financially disadvantaged women as collectors of plastic waste from streets
• Eco-friendly bags
  • Job opportunity for 11 financially disadvantaged women in sewing and weaving.
  • Earned 6,834 Birr (as of June 30, 2008) from sales of the bags.
• Awareness Raising/Advocacy
  • Successfully held "Anti-festal pollution campaign week" in Addis Ababa, mobilizing 1000+ people in 2006 and 2000+ people in 2007.
  • Influenced the banning of thin (< 0.03 mm) plastic bags in Ethiopia (Proclamation 513)
  • Featured in 4 TV programs, 3 radio programs, and several newspaper articles and magazines to transmit the message.
• Others
  • Won "Addis Ababa City Administration Green Award" in the year 2008.
  • Organized tree planting campaign for 3 consecutive years (2006 - 2008).
  • Participated in cleaning campaign since the year 2006.

Our Strategy & Activity Plan

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SOS Addis has created the Strategic Plan for 2009 - 2013.  If you are interested in learning about our Strategic Plan, please contact the SOS Addis Office

Click here to download our Annual Plan for the year 2008 (113KB/PDF)