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Eco-Shoes Africa is a social enterprise founded by Moses Taban Mathew within the Bidibidi refugee settlement in northern Uganda. Focused on sustainability and community impact, Eco-Shoes Africa recycles discarded shoes to create unique, eco-friendly designs, supporting both environmental protection and practical needs. Through their work, they ensure vulnerable children in the settlement have shoes to wear, especially for school, addressing a vital community need.

Eco-Shoes Africa provides job opportunities for marginalized youth and women in the camp. In a setting where traditional pathways are limited, this initiative empowers young refugees and women to develop skills in shoemaking, transforming the social and economic landscape. As a result, the enterprise tackles local unemployment and inspires community-driven solutions to everyday challenges​​​.

The inspiration for Eco-Shoes Africa stems from Moses’ personal journey. Raised by a single mother in South Sudan, he often went to school with worn shoes his cousin gave him. In 2016, conflict in South Sudan forced Moses to seek refuge in Uganda, where he noticed the same issue—many children in the refugee camp were walking barefoot due to a lack of resources. This powerful memory drove him to launch Eco-Shoes Africa, aiming to give children the dignity and safety of proper footwear. Initially a challenging endeavor, the enterprise began to thrive as a team formed around the shared goal of empowerment and resilience.

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Plastic waste is not the only challenge we have in Uganda and Africa as a whole. Housing is still very expensive especially for people living in slums and low income areas. In Kampala, homes in slums are usually filled up with water when it rains, damaging property and making it difficult for people to live decently and yet, dignified housing is expensive considering that these families earn an average of $40 as monthly income.

Upcycle Africa protects the environment and promotes innovative mind-set while empowering youth. Through up-cycling plastic waste we train our local communities in Uganda especially the disadvantaged youth to protect the environment. Bottles replace environmentally unfriendly bricks, which are burnt for days promoting deforestation. Plastic bottles are collected and compacted with soil, making the houses very cost effective and affordable. Furthermore, the buildings are durable, buffer heat and are earthquake resistant. Upcycle Africa has constructed houses in different parts of Africa while creating employment opportunities for rural women and youths this has ensured economic empowerment for these women. This cash incentive allows low-income families to support their children with school fees. We also have a waste recovery system where we collect plastic waste from beaches, streets and bus stations ensuring clean and safe environments.

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