Scoring green goals through recycling initiative

Turning waste into opportunities
The Green Goals Project encourages learners to collect plastic waste in exchange for sporting equipment, combining environmental awareness with youth participation and community sport.
Ndapandula Lilonga
  • 29 Minutes Ago

The Old Mutual Foundation has launched the Green Goals Project, encouraging young Namibians to tackle plastic pollution while promoting sport and community involvement.

Launched in partnership with Rent-A-Drum and the City of Windhoek, the initiative encourages learners to collect plastic waste in exchange for new sporting equipment. It was introduced alongside the Old Mutual Street Sports Namibia Edition 3 finals in Windhoek.

Old Mutual marketing executive Mignon du Preez delivered the welcoming remarks at the launch, highlighting the importance of giving young people opportunities to make a positive difference in their communities.

The project is open to learners from Grade 7 to Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level. Participants can collect plastic waste and use it to make handmade footballs and netballs, which can then be exchanged for new soccer or netball balls at participating Old Mutual branches, including the Black Chain branch in Katutura.

Younger learners must be accompanied by an adult when taking part.

Furthermore, Green Goals aims to raise awareness among young people about plastic pollution and the importance of keeping their surroundings clean.

By linking recycling with sport, the project makes environmental responsibility more accessible and engaging for learners while encouraging teamwork and community participation.

The partnership between the Old Mutual Foundation, Rent-A-Drum and the City of Windhoek also highlights how collaboration between businesses, service providers and local authorities can support youth development while addressing environmental challenges.

Running alongside the Old Mutual Street Sports Namibia Edition 3 finals, the initiative adds an environmental focus to the sporting activities, encouraging participants and spectators to recognise that positive change extends beyond the playing field.

Through Green Goals, young people are encouraged to see plastic waste not simply as rubbish, but as something that can be turned into an opportunity to improve their communities.