Fifty pupils at Funko M/A School in Ghana’s Western Region have received school bags made from recovered plastic waste as part of an environmental and education initiative by the Western Regional YMCA.
The distribution, which began on 15 September 2026, is the first phase of the YMCA’s Green Bags Outreach programme.
The organisation plans to provide 2,000 upcycled school bags to pupils in 10 schools across the region over the next 12 months.
The initiative forms part of the YMCA’s Green Futures Project, which combines plastic waste recovery, local production and educational support.
The recovered plastic is processed and turned into durable school bags. Each of the 50 bags distributed at Funko M/A School came with exercise books, a mathematics set, a sketchbook, pens, pencils, erasers and sharpeners.
The bags also contained “Dear Future Star” cards with personalised messages from sponsors to encourage the pupils in their education and future ambitions.
The first distribution was supported by 20 individual sponsors.
Green Futures Project Lead Goddy Nana Mens said the initiative was intended to provide more than school supplies.
“This first donation is about more than giving out 50 bags. A Green Bag gives a child a school bag, essential learning materials and a personal message of encouragement from someone who has chosen to invest in their future,” he said.
Western Regional YMCA Director Nana Peperah Antwi said the organisation hopes to reach 10 schools with 2,000 upcycled bags within the next year.
She said the initiative demonstrates how plastic waste could be transformed into useful products while supporting children’s education.
“This first donation of Green Bags, for us, is more than just a donation of school supplies — it is a reminder that what we see as waste can become something useful, purposeful and full of hope,” she said.
The Green Futures Project has so far recovered more than 50,000 pieces of plastic waste and produced more than 150 upcycled items.
It has also organised six coastal clean-up exercises and delivered 18 environmental education sessions in schools.
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