BY KFLEEYESUS ABEBE
Like many Ethiopians, Tiya Belay learnt the harm plastic bags can cause to the environment. But as graduate of environmental engineering and someone engaged in the sector, she has practically seen the effects of plastic wastes in the country. In consequence, she felt a moral responsibility to fight the effect of plastic waste. Tiya along with her husband came up with environment friendly paper bags.
“It is hard to dispose plastic bags. They take 80 years to 500 years be totally decayed. Even after they decayed they leave toxic chemicals to the soil. They cause contamination to water, air and the soil. So, we have been concerned about this for a while and we came up with this idea of replacing the use of plastic with paper bags. The paper bags are environmental friendly when they are used and disposed.”
Another interesting thing about Tiya’s company Afro Zembil is her products are made recycling used papers collecting from schools, offices and other places that dispose papers at large scale.
“ We don’t use logs to produce our paper products. Instead we recycle already used papers thinking that we would also prevent burning of papers that result air pollution. We collect the papers from school, offices and other similar places and pulped it with water and chemicals, roll it and dry it again to give us such packages.”
Another start up with business name Askema also recycle materials and help prevent environmental degradation. The business is poised to substitute imported car clutches with local products. This local clutches are made from bones, ceramic and other industry wastes. “Askema” meaning Monk Cap optimizes weather condition to monks and car clutches also optimize energy to cars”, says Behaylu Soboka, founder of the start up. “Askema is monks cap and has advantage of optimizing heat so that monks sustain heat while long prayer. Car clutches at the same time optimize and regulate energy. So, we relate this and produce clutches from waste products. “
The company’s marketing manager Betelhiem Ayele says the products are already on the market and their business are taking roots.
“Three organizations that work on cars have started working with us. We are also cooperating with polytechnic colleges. We are promoting ourselves in such a way. We started the business on loan bases but now we are in good posture. A standard packaging however is a challenge to our progress. We want a standard package that is fitting to our products and create good impression for customers.”
Internet utilization in Ethiopia is raising and connectivity, exchange of information and knowledge is also simultaneously growing. Taking this into account, three friends Dr. Zimare Tadesse, Dr. Helina Abere and software engineer Lydia Daniel gathered together to create a channel where women get information related to sexual reproduction.
The startup TenaSeb is now providing its medical consulting and guidance directly through telephone, telegram and posting relevant videos on YouTube. Their service is also reaching Ethiopians living in middle east. If they get financial support, they have a plan to include men in TenaSeb service and men will also get essential medical advices. They also wanted to work with ministry of health.
British Embassy funded Warka Incubation program has been providing training on marketing, business model and other essential skills to above startups and other seven startup businesses. “ British Embassy along with Warka incubation gave us important training on how to develop our startup, develop it to business idea and how to reach the community. We have got practical skills. They have helped us a lot,” says Dr. Helina Abere. On the inauguration of these startups, British Ambassador to Ethiopia Darren Welch express his surprise and the embassy’s keenness to carry on similar programs in the future.
“This is really important program that we are very proud to be associated with this program. Something we fund in partnership with Xhub from the embassy here. The finalists whose work enjoying and admiring have completed a 3 months incubation program. They received training, couching on a range of topics from marketing to business development. And, they have learn from one another.
They come through competitive process and they now going to receive seed money to support further business development. This the first incubation program we have run from here by support of the embassy but it won’t be the last. I have seen this fantastic ideas come to fruition. It is very very rewarding.”
The startups want to expand their business but they need support of relevant stakeholders like the ministry of job creation, ministry of health and ministry of science and technology. They need business places, financial support and collaboration and recognition to excel their business by creating jobs for youth and benefiting the society by their entrepreneurship and innovation.
Ethiopian State minister of Science and Technology Huria Ali has been in attendance in the inauguration ceremony. She visited works of the startups, expressed her fascination and affirmed government’s support for this and similar startups to grow and benefit the society.
“I believe the training you got from Warka Incubation program will help you to run your business efficiently and you would provide quality products to the market. You will create new jobs, save foreign currency and thereby contribute share for the development of the country. I can affirm my ministry support in this journey.
The state minister also said that government put technology at the center of its economic ambition. She briefed activities such as encouraging innovation, spurring digital economy and others are being accomplished to realize the dream.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2023
