Pacific Recycling Foundation Founder Amitesh Deo who had a difficult upbringing and started his career working in a recycling yard says the organisation’s main objective is to connect the dots and find a solution aimed at a circular economy and the rights and dignity of those involved in waste picking.
While speaking during a workshop for their 5-year strategic plan, Deo says today represents that intersection where passion meets purpose.
While talking about the challenges in establishing the foundation 30 years ago, Deo says he had just come out of employment, carrying with him the tremors of early child abuse, and landed himself the only employment available to him which was at a recycling yard.
He recalls the job was in Lautoka and he remembers loading a single mattress and some bed sheets on the back of a small exhausted twin cab and driving himself to Lautoka to start this new job.
Deo says he lived in shared accommodation with no access to a kitchen, and he found out that there was a faith-based organisation in Lautoka that served cooked meals every Sunday.
He says for several months, that was the only warm-cooked food he had and there were also some of the most appreciated meals of his life.
The Founder says that PRF is the voice of those individuals engaged in waste-picking.
Deo says despite those hardships he is making a plea that we need everyone’s commitment and a shared vision to address the critical waste management issues in our country.
He thanked the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Education, Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka for their genuine commitment towards environment advocacy and sustainability.
Deo also thanked the partners and stakeholders for sharing their vision and in welcoming their 5-year strategic plan of walking the talk-connecting the dots.
The workshop continues tomorrow.
