Wafalme Kids: Trash is Cash
Just spotted this video. It came out a little while ago.
Wafalme is the name of this group of kids who have grown up in the slums of Nairobi. They were brought together by their passion for Hip Hop as a way of life and decided to begin writing songs and spreading positive messages to the youth in the slums surrounding Nairobi, giving others hope that they can change their lives. This song and video won an MTV Positive Change Award. The song strives to highlight not just the problems of overcrowding, pollution, improper waste disposal in the slums of Nairobi, but also what can be done about it (recycling programs, trash for money programs etc).
These kids are so inspiring.
LYRICS
Trash is cash Intro, Yeiyee no more pollution, this my solution
Make it clean, make it clean
Verse 1
Millions living here, The litter they call dear
They weren't born here, It's survival for revival
Air filled with polluted bubbles' Sky's the limit every day's hustle
Conserving the slum building a muscle, Cleaning up the streets recycling the trash
To save the environment and make some cash, People wake up and wander right about outside
The narrow dirty streets shantily built muddy shack, Discarded garbage kids playing on filthy paths
Within the atmosphere of alcohol violence and drugs, Education medication a distant hope in them
Chorus
No more pollution: Trash is cash. This my solution: trash is cash
Make a town a green town; make a town a green town
Climate change, environment, make a town a clean town
Verse 2
Community groups and micro entrepreneurs, Selling to farmers a precious asset compost manure
Irrigation schemes from these rivers, Attires,eco sandals, handbags and jewellery made from trashy granular
Mattress, pillow baskets, roof tiles from trashed plastic, Sold to local and foreign market
Metals sold to scrap dealer's aint no rampage, Cheap cooker making using dumped coffee seeds and paper as fuel
To feed the poor the price not cruel, Millions of people trying to save the world
While make a living with the strong unemployment, And pollution solution innovative lesson to the world my conclusion
Starved women bathing in dirty rivers planting veggies along river beds, Kids forage in waste drinking water from pipes covered in garbage
Raw sewers overflowing open sewers the eyes they can't bandage
Improper sanitation no latrine variation garbage mountains can't manage
Chorus
No more pollution: Trash is cash. This my solution: trash is cash
Make a town a green town; make a town a green town
Climate change, environment, make a town a clean town
Verse 3
So when I sit back I reminisce about the future
Things the way they are wishing they wouldn't last
Must thoughts of conservation run inside of me
Now I can get the best life I wanted to achieve
The ozone layer depletion, threat to mankind, I mention
The planet getting warmer, resource scarcity informer
Slums overpopulated/people starving some don't make it
No trees around the slum this can't be a greener ground environment surround
Charcoal and bio gas production, youths employed for garbage collection/an ideal correction
Water purifiers, ceramic material, fine art sculptures made from trash
Another best practice by the youth to generate some cash
Fire stutter by the roadside spreading acrid smoke near food kiosks in the air
Its pollution here, pollution there, pollution everywhere beware.