Pendeza Shelters not only turns plastic waste into eco-friendly building materials to construct resilient homes for the homeless in Uganda, they also create jobs and train local youth while reducing plastic pollution. I stayed several times in houses built by Pendeza Shelters and based on my personal experience, I can give attest that these homes are an excellent solution for the housing shortage in rural Uganda. 

Pendeza Shelters turns plastic waste into eco-friendly homes for vulnerable families, creating green jobs for youth.

Introduction and Background

Pendeza Shelters is a social Enterprise that transforms the poorly disposed of plastic waste into eco-friendly building materials to construct cost effective eco-homes for the homeless and disaster affected communities. Our visionary organization is committed to addressing the global housing crisis while mitigating plastic pollution. Our innovative approach involves constructing affordable, sustainable homes using discarded plastic bottles, thereby tackling two of the world’s most pressing challenges: housing shortages and environmental degradation. Founded with a mission to provide eco-friendly, cost-effective housing solutions to underserved communities, Pendeza Shelters combines environmental conservation with social impact, focusing on low-income communities, refugees, and other vulnerable populations.

Our approach not only reduces the environmental footprint by reusing waste materials but also generates employment and offers a model for sustainable rural and urban development. Our organization is driven by the belief that everyone deserves a decent home and that innovation can serve as a tool for global change.

The challenge: Uganda’s Housing deficit

Uganda is currently experiencing a severe housing crisis, with a national deficit exceeding 2.4 million units, according to Uganda Bureau of statistics. Rapid urbanisation and a growing population have placed intense pressure on already limited housing resources. Kampala and other urban centre’s face rising numbers of informal settlements and slums, while rural areas lack cost-effective housing solutions.

In 2023, Pendeza Shelters conducted a needs assessment in Kasese District, revealing that 62% of households were struggling with housing, and 75% were open to adopting plastic bottle housing due to its affordability, durability, earthquake resistance, and sustainability for hot climate. 

Mission, Vision and Goal

Vision: A green world with transformed communities. We focus on a world where every person has access to a dignified home, built with respect for people and the planet.

Mission: Creating a world where human live in harmony with nature by promoting environmentally responsible behavior and preserving biodiversity for future generations.

Pendeza shelters endeavors to provide sustainable, affordable housing solution while combating plastic pollution through innovative eco-construction practices. 

Core Goals

Reducing plastic waste through upcycling into construction materials

Building affordable, disaster-resilient homes for vulnerable population

Creating jobs and skills training in marginalized communities

Promote green construction and sustainable development across Africa and beyond

Innovation and Model

At the core of Pendeza Shelters' model is the use of plastic bottles as an alternative building materials. This approach is not only cost-effective but also environmentally friendly. Each house is constructed using thousands of plastic bottles filled with soil, which provides durability and insulation. These bottles are used in combination with traditional materials such as cement and mortar to create structurally sound buildings that meet modern housing standards.

Our construction process involves the collection of plastic waste from urban and rural areas, turning a major environmental pollutant into a valuable resource. This model not only reduces the reliance on conventional building materials but also offers a solution to the growing problem of plastic waste in our environment.

Current and past projects

Pendeza shelters has successfully piloted and implemented eco-construction projects cross multiple countries:

Uganda: build homes for displaces families and low-income earners, especially in refugee settlements.

South Africa (Nongoma): partnered with Udoti Initiative and ARWCO to reduce plastic pollution and provide housing in informal settlement 

Nigeria: partnered with Bramble Network to construct learning and sleeping space for children using plastic bottles.

Zimbabwe: in collaboration with Transformational Innovation Hub, developed a youth empowerment housing model in Tongagara Refugee settlement. 

Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa): partnered with Congo Innovation Academy and Ekimeli school to launch an eco-house built with 20,000 bottles, engaging 14 youth, 4 engineers and 56 community workers.

Achievements and Impact

50+ Houses Built: Across Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and democratic republic of Congo serving refugee, low-income families and disaster survivors.

1,500,000 million bottles recycled: diverted from landfills, rivers and oceans contributing to ecosystem preservation.

500+ jobs created: including roles for plastic collectors, builders and trainers. Many of whom are women, youth and refugees.

Green building innovations: integration of solar energy and rainwater harvesting for climate-smart living 

Refugee empowerment: providing vocational skills, employment and a sense of ownership to displaced individuals.

Training and Capacity building

Pendeza Shelters actively trains community members, with a focus on;

Bottle collection, cleaning and sorting

Eco-construction techniques

Projection management

Environmental conservation and community mobilisation.

These programs empower youth and women with practical skills and sustainable income sources, strengthening local economies.

Future Plans

Pendeza shelters is poised for scale. Planned initiatives include

Plastic collection centers: establishing hubs in rural and urban areas to collect, sort, and supply plastic bottles, while creating local jobs

School and health clinic construction: building education and healthcare facilities in underserved communities using plastic bottle architecture. 

Affordable Housing units: expanding reach in both urban slums and rural areas, including climate-resilient community housing.

Rural-Urban development balance: promoting rural sustainability to reduce urban migration by offering quality housing and economic opportunity in rural settings.

Municipal and community partnerships: collaborating with city authorities, schools, and private entities for plastic collection and awareness campaigns. 

Return on investment (RONI)

Investment in Pendeza Shelters yields measurable social, environmental and economic returns:

Environmental: each home removes 10,000 plastic bottles from the environment

Economic: bottles homes are 20% cheaper than traditional homes

Social: empowered communities, jobs creation, and enhanced dignity for vulnerable population

Scalability: our proven model is adaptable to different setting and can be replicated across regions.

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