Lake Victoria 2021

Whilst the global plastic pollution discourse is predominantly focused on the impact to our oceans, the reality is that the major source of marine pollution starts upstream and single-use plastic products are ubiquitous. Our addiction to plastic has diffused through every part of society but the negative impacts of single-use consumption both to the environment and human health largely remain unknown to the majority of East Africans.  

Over a four week period in March and April 2021, we led major events across three countries (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) meeting business leaders, community leaders, conservationists, policy-makers, academics and school children, in order to highlight the impact of plastic pollution on the lake and other environmental challenges it faces, and what we can all do about it.

Like the 2019 Lamu to Zanzibar expedition, the Lake Victoria expedition 2021 demonstrated that the Flipflopi dhow innovation is a powerful platform to accelerate engagement with key stakeholders around plastic pollution.

What did WE achieve?

• The world's first recycled plastic sailing dhow completed a historic expedition circumnavigating Lake Victoria

• Sailed ~1000km in 4 weeks to tackle plastic pollution

• Ran 10+ events in three countries, bringing together thousands of school children, creators, campaigns, policy makers, and the media

• 100+ news articles and broadcast media including UNEP, CGTN, AFP, Xinhua, the British Government, All Africa, and Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian national media

• Tens of thousands of school children engaged in talks and recycling workshops

• Several East African leaders made commitments to tackle single-use plastic including Kenyan County Governors and the Queen of Buganda

• Launched a plastic recycling centre in Kisumu and a youth eco-education centre in Mwanza

• Undertook the first surface to deepwater analysis of microplastic presence in Lake Victoria