When Johnmary Kavuma stepped onto the stage at the One Young World Summit, the audience listened not only to his story but to the story of thousands whose voices he carries.

“I grew up as a poor orphan in Uganda… when I was 19, our house collapsed. My grandmother died. But from that pain I found purpose.”

These words set the tone for an unforgettable presentation that links two urgent issues: plastic pollution and the global housing crisis.

♻️ The Vision of Upcycle Africa

In Uganda alone, more than 600 tons of plastic waste are generated each day and over half of it remains uncollected. Meanwhile, with the fastest-growing population in Africa, the housing demand is exploding yet traditional construction draws heavily on timber, clay and other environmentally damaging resources.

Recognising a radical solution, Johnmary and his team founded Upcycle Africa. The idea is simple yet powerful: take plastic bottles fill them with soil and compact them and use them as bricks to construct strong, affordable, eco-friendly homes.

So far, the organisation has recycled 1.5 million plastic bottles and built over 80 homes across vulnerable communities in Uganda. But the mission goes much deeper: by training marginalized youth and women in waste-collection and construction, Upcycle Africa is turning waste into opportunity.

“At Upcycle Africa we are not only fighting plastic waste – we are also fighting the waste of human potential.”

🌊 A Movement, Not Just a Building Project

On stage, Johnmary shared the platform with others working across Africa transforming local problems into creative solutions. They spoke of a new generation of environmental leadership rooted in community and innovation.

By converting what was once considered worthless into materials for shelter, Upcycle Africa challenges the assumption that “waste” must remain useless. In their approach: every plastic bottle is a brick; every brick is a home; every home is a story of dignity, resilience and empowerment.

🚀 Why This Matters Globally

This work is relevant not only for Uganda but for the world. It shows that:

• Sustainable housing can use low-cost, locally available “waste” materials.
• Environmental justice and social inclusion go hand-in-hand.
• Young people, when empowered, can lead climate-solutions in the places that need them most.

As Johnmary said in his speech:

“If we can build homes from plastic waste, then we can build hope from anything.”

🔗 Watch the Full Speech

Watch Johnmary Kavuma’s presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvnUId33tTg&t=32s