Women's History Month: Celebrating Isatou Ceesay

We continue to celebrate Women's History month and Global Recycling day by choosing one woman whose impact has been too large to ignore. A common thread to how these women live there lives has emerged; find your passion, don't give up, don't let anyone tell you no and change will happen. The inspiration I have felt researching and writing these posts has been immeasurable. Thank you to all the women who have paved the way before us so we may continue the journey.

Isatou Ceesay: Co-Founder Women Initiative Gambia and Queen of Recycling

A Gambian environmentalist and social entrepreneur Isatou Ceesay's story will resonate with many women who have had to overcome poverty and a lack of formal education to not only survive, but thrive. Choosing not to surrender and follow the expected trajectory of a typical woman in her community Isatou Ceesay started volunteering with the US Peace Corp and a training seminar in waste management inspired her to find a way to recycle discarded plastic bags, transforming them into purses, wallets and other useful items to sell. Co-founding Women Initiative Gambia expanded the recycling program to other materials and empowering hundreds of women in recent years.

“I THINK THAT WHEN YOU ABUSE YOUR ENVIRONMENT, YOU ABUSE YOURSELF” -ISATOU CEESAY

Scroll down to our Inspiring Reads section to read more about Isatou Ceesay.

Share a story about an inspirational woman in your life. Go to our social media pages Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and share your story.

Thanks for reading,

Savvy

We may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you from the links below and in the post above, but we think these companies are worth sharing.

Inspiring Reads -  

Fund literacy and protect the planet when you buy books from Certified B Corporation, Better World Books. To date Better World Books has donated over 31 million books, raised over $32 million to fund literacy programs and libraries and reused or recycled over 386 million books keeping them out of our landfills.

One Plastic Bag : Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on their way. One plastic bag became two. Then ten. Then a hundred. The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads...  Something had to change. Isatou Ceesay was that change...

Shop our Reduce Plastic use Collection: Support women who have turned their passion for saving the planet into beautiful, high quality home décor items. Perfect to showcase in your home or to gift to someone who will treasure the impactful story behind these perfect gifts.

In Case You Missed It - 

ECOS Paints - Environmentally friendly, water based paints for your home that is non-toxic, zero VOC and hand crafted in their South Carolina plant. Exceptional coverage up to 560 sq. ft. per gallon and a transparent ingredient list make ECOS Paints the healthy home choice.

 

East Fork Pottery takes a stand for social equality.  Partnering with community outreach organizations to stretch outside their comfort zone; paying employees a living wage, they are now working towards increasing wages to a family living wage.  Receiving Carbon Neutral Certification and B Corporation Certification has inspired them to make even greater changes. East Fork's About Page was part of our inspiration for starting The Savvy Elephant. AND we haven't even touched on how stunning and beautiful their pottery is!  See for yourself by clicking through to the East Fork Website.  

Want More 

Leave a comment below, or drop us a line if you have a question or want us to look into a topic you think will interest The Savvy Elephant community.

Not subscribed yet? You can take care of that here!