Waste into Wealth: Young Women Leading Change in Unguja

Khadija Mzee Haji working on a tyre. © Wendyline Malawa | CARE Tanzania

In a quiet corner of Unguja, thirteen (13) ambitious young women are redefining what it means to create opportunity. Through the Ujana Wangu, Tunu Yangu project, they have turned discarded vehicle tires into elegant handmade coffee tables — transforming waste into a source of income, pride, and environmental change for their community.

Their group, known as the ‘Lady Tyre Decoration’ a Youth Savings and Loan Association (YSLA), is a shining example of how skills and determination can spark innovation. Their journey began with training from a Community-Based Trainer (CBT) supported by the project.

“When I trained them (young women), I wasn’t just teaching them how to recycle tires — I was showing them how to see opportunity in waste. Watching them turn that knowledge into income and community change gives me hope that more youth will follow this path,” says Abdallah, Community Based Trainer from Kibweni, Unguja.

Before joining the project, most of the young women had no reliable source of income. Today, as a registered group, they are earning an average of Tsh. 150,000 (US$59.74) per month, each coffee table they create sells for between TZS 60,000 (US$ 23.89) and 70,000 (US$ 27.88), helping them meet daily needs, support their families, and inspire other youth. Since launching their enterprise, the group has already sold six (6) tables to local hotels and coffee shops — turning what was once waste into a pathway toward economic independence.

For the ‘Lady Tyre Decoration’, the Ujana Wangu, Tunu Yangu project represents more than training — it’s a bridge to self-reliance. Their success is also reducing environmental waste in Zanzibar, showing that youth-led innovation can drive lasting change. For these thirteen (13) young women, this is only the beginning. With additional financial support, they hope to scale production, improve their tools, and reach wider markets — creating a ripple effect of empowerment across the island.

Waste into Wealth: Young Women Leading Change in Unguja

“I never thought an old tire could change my life,”