Changing mindsets one clean-up at a time

In a world grappling with environmental degradation and community disengagement, two passionate individuals are proving that creativity and collaboration can drive real change. Ras BK, a freelance artist and creative facilitator from Uganda, and Hendrik Schmidt, a Windhoek-based community builder, are leading a movement to transform waste into value while inspiring a culture of environmental consciousness.Ras BK has spent the past 23 years using recycled materials to craft functional art, working with NGOs, schools and local communities to raise environmental awareness. Hendrik, on the other hand, began his journey in July 2024, focusing on building systems that enable collective impact, supporting learning centres, orphanages, clean-ups and recycling initiatives.Their paths crossed in August 2024 during a recruitment campaign at the Village Market for the Windhoek Clean-up Initiative, sparking a powerful collaboration rooted in hands-on work, creative problem-solving and a shared belief that sustainable change begins with community.Driven by nature, sustained by impactThe duo draws deep inspiration from nature’s beauty and fragility. As Ras puts it: “As nature nurtures us, we must nurture nature in return.” What keeps them motivated is the transformation they witness: people becoming more aware of their power, communities finding pride in their surroundings, and waste being reimagined into something valuable through art and structure.One of their biggest challenges has been confronting the ongoing environmental degradation, plastic waste, pollution and general apathy among the public. But instead of succumbing to frustration, they channel it into action. Through clean-ups, trust-building, and recycled art initiatives, they’ve created a model where waste is seen not as a burden but as an opportunity.Since launching their joint efforts, the Windhoek Cleanup Initiative has collected over 3 000 bags of plastic waste in under seven months, involving schools, volunteers and local partners. For them, this number represents more than just statistics – it reflects collective ownership and a shift in mindset toward sustainability.Lessons on building sustainable changeBoth Ras and Schmidt agree on one key lesson: teamwork multiplies impact. Ras lives by the motto “Each one, teach one,” while Hendrik believes in building systems that encourage everyone to contribute. Another takeaway? Start before you’re ready. Perfection, they say, is less important than taking consistent action.Their ultimate goal is to spark a culture of environmental consciousness and community creativity. They want children to see trash differently, adults to take pride in clean surroundings and communities to embrace sustainable habits like reducing, reusing and recycling as second nature.Looking ahead, the team plans to expand recycling and creative education initiatives across Windhoek, particularly in schools and informal communities. They’re also exploring partnerships with the municipality’s Waste Buy-Back Centre to merge environmental work with entrepreneurship, transforming sustainability efforts into livelihood opportunities for youth.Launched in 2024 under the Avea Foundation, the Windhoek Clean-up Initiative aims to create replicable and sustainable models for waste management and community empowerment in Namibia. Through art, recycling and education, the initiative is redefining how people see waste, their environment and their potential to create change.“Start small, act often and stay real. Talk less, do more. Use what you have and turn it into something meaningful,” is their advice to the public. Through their combined efforts, Ras BK and Hendrik are proving that with passion, creativity, and collaboration, trash can be turned into transformation, and communities can build a cleaner, greener, and more hopeful future.

Changing mindsets one clean-up at a time

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Republikein 2025-09-03

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Changing mindsets one clean-up at a time

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Republikein 2025-09-03

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