# Carus Monthly Blog(Progress Update) **URL:** \ **Category:** Community\ **Tags:** kenya, nigeria\ **Created:** [September 2, 2024, 8:10am UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925 "2024-09-02T08:10:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![differentabdul](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.celo.org/differentabdul/32/9311_2.png) [@differentabdul](https://forum.celo.org/u/differentabdul)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2024, 8:10am UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/1 "2024-09-02T08:10:44Z")
**Backstory** Carus started as a project born out of curiosity. One night, I asked myself: can’t we just recycle this plastic rather than letting it cause environmental pollution in my vicinity? This question sparked a mission. Instead of being part of the problem, I wanted to be part of the solution. I decided to take a leap of faith and address the root of the issue. _ **Early Beginnings** _ In the beginning, we faced a lot of challenges. From aggregating recylables to understanding the recycling process, every step was a learning experience. - Initial Funding: We started with a modest budget of $5,000, which we raised through grants. - First Collection Drive: Our inaugural collection event gathered over **600 kg** of plastic waste in just 3 days. Despite skepticism and logistical hurdles, these obstacles only fuelled our determination to make a difference. **Initial Learnings** Our initial learnings included: - Understanding the Recycling Process: We discovered that only **9%** of plastic ever produced has been recycled, highlighting the need for effective solutions. - Community Engagement: Building relationships with local communities was essential for support and awareness. We reached out to over **30 households** in our first month. - Trial and Error: Experimenting with various aggregating techniques helped us refine our approach, leading to a **20%** increase in recycling efficiency. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/celo/original/2X/6/612d4f4e6ab3e77061c7932ab326c97f35e95197.jpeg) Late Night sorting **Where We Are Now** Today, Carus has made significant strides in promoting sustainable practices all thanks to **PREZENTI GRANTS** : - Partnerships: We are in the process of establishing partnerships with **14 Schools, 2 organizations and already partnered with An event Centr** that support our recycling initiatives. - Awareness Campaigns:Our campaigns have reached over **1,000** individuals, educating them on the importance of recycling. - Community Engagement: We’ve organised 1 Online **community session** , fostering active participation in recycling efforts. - After @celocamp and prezenti grants we have started building and our Dapp for Minipay, Our community has become more informed and engaged in the fight against plastic pollution. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/celo/original/2X/2/2ac3dce983dfd05ec172d8e446de94297afb3354.jpeg) Moving to storage Center **What’s Next** Looking ahead, we plan to: - Expand Outreach:Aim to reach 1 **0 new communities** within the next year. - Innovate Technologies: Invest in developing new recycling Methodologies to improve our processes by **30%.** - Collaborate: Form partnerships with **5 other organizations and Minipay** to amplify our impact and resources. - Hosting our in-house **Demo-Day** Together, we can continue to turn curiosity into action and make a meaningful difference in our environment. Follow us [Carus Twitter page](https://twitter.com/recycleoncarus?s=21&t=Xi85s63J9G7T0ppZNwQqvA) Mail us [carusrecycling.com](http://carusrecycling.com) for partnership ---
**Author:** ![Prezenti.grants](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.celo.org/prezenti.grants/32/9493_2.png) [@Prezenti.grants](https://forum.celo.org/u/Prezenti.grants)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 8:20pm UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/2 "2024-09-03T20:20:19Z")
Great update guys, interesting to see what you are up to! ---
**Author:** ![differentabdul](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.celo.org/differentabdul/32/9311_2.png) [@differentabdul](https://forum.celo.org/u/differentabdul)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/3 "2024-09-04T17:01:01Z")
Thank you!very much. We are just getting started ---
**Author:** ![Marok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Marok](https://forum.celo.org/u/Marok)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2024, 11:15am UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/4 "2024-10-09T11:15:56Z")
Well done for doing great ---
**Author:** ![Decentralizedceo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@Decentralizedceo](https://forum.celo.org/u/Decentralizedceo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/5 "2024-10-12T00:13:05Z")
Wow, this is very interesting. Where is this taking place and how can we get involved? ---
**Author:** ![differentabdul](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.celo.org/differentabdul/32/9311_2.png) [@differentabdul](https://forum.celo.org/u/differentabdul)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 9:07pm UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/6 "2024-10-13T21:07:37Z")
Thank you Marok. We appreciate ---
**Author:** ![differentabdul](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.celo.org/differentabdul/32/9311_2.png) [@differentabdul](https://forum.celo.org/u/differentabdul)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.celo.org/t/carus-monthly-blog-progress-update/8925/7 "2024-10-13T21:08:51Z")
Thank you. This is taken place in Lagos Nigeria. To get involved send mail to [tunzbabs@gmail.com](mailto:tunzbabs@gmail.com)