Turning a Shared Concern into Community Action
Plastic pollution deeply affects many communities around the world, such as Jos, Nigeria. Improper waste disposal can leave public spaces littered and make it harder for communities to keep their surroundings clean. For Manchang Zingbong, addressing the problem meant bringing people into the conversation and helping them see the role they could play in making a difference.
Through Plastic Free Community, a project supported by Season of Solutions, a campaign opportunity powered by Planeteer Alliance, Manchang and his team brought environmental education into schools and everyday community spaces. From May to August, they conducted four school outreach sessions, at Government Secondary School Vwang, St Rita’s school Kvom, Government Secondary School Jishe, Bright Morning Star Secondary School and Tudun Wada Jos, reaching more than 190 students with information about plastic pollution, responsible waste disposal, and practical ways to reduce plastic use. They also engaged another 105 community members through conversations in homes, local shops, and along the streets of Jos. With the support of 20 volunteers, the campaign reached 315 people in total, encouraging students and residents to take a closer look at their everyday habits and consider what they could do differently.
Bringing the Solutions to the Classroom and the Streets
For Manchang, getting people involved meant keeping conversations simple, relatable, and connected to everyday life.
“I learned that awareness works best when it is simple and close to people,” he shared. “Talking with people in their homes, in shops, and along the streets worked well because the conversations were short, friendly.”
At schools, the team introduced alternatives to single-use plastics and encouraged students to make personal pledges to reduce their plastic waste. In the wider community, they shared practical tips on avoiding unnecessary plastics and disposing of waste responsibly. The response was encouraging. Some participants committed to changing their habits, while others expressed appreciation for the initiative.
But the conversations also revealed a challenge. Some residents wanted to dispose of their plastic waste properly but were unsure where to take it when existing waste collection systems were not working well. The experience taught Manchang that inspiring people to change their habits is essential, but making that change possible, and guiding people through the pathways that lead toit, matters just as much.
Turning Community Engagement into Action
In September, the campaign brought people together for a community cleanup in Kvom, Jos South. Twenty volunteers and 105 community members took part, collecting 40 heavy-duty bags of waste from public spaces. Manchang reported observing less plastic waste in the areas where the team worked.
“We saw less plastic waste in the areas we cleaned, spoke to people about proper waste disposal, and got community members involved in taking action.”
Hence, the campaign created opportunities for residents to take part, make commitments, and recognize that their everyday choices can contribute to a healthier environment.
Supporting the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders
Through Season of Solutions, powered by Planeteer Alliance, young environmental leaders receive the skills, resources, and support to turn ideas into community-based projects. Manchang was one of 11 leaders from around the world who stepped into this opportunity, joining a global community of young people taking action on environmental challenges in their own communities, from Bansang, The Gambia, to Mexico City, Mexico, and Fortaleza, Brazil.
Leading Plastic Free Community in Jos, Nigeria, helped Manchang strengthen his skills in leadership, project management, public speaking, community mobilization, stakeholder engagement, teamwork, and problem-solving. Reflecting on the experience, he shared:
“Thank you for this opportunity. The grant and the campaign gave us the push to turn an idea into real action in our community. It was also motivating to be part of a wider group of young people working on environmental issues.”
Manchang’s experience demonstrates what can happen when young people receive the support and resources to turn their environmental concerns into action. At Planeteer Alliance, we believe that when young people have the opportunity to lead, local action can become the starting point for a cleaner, more sustainable future.