From Struggling Graduate to Award-Winning Waste Management Coordinator
Name: Chanda Mwamba
Age: 27
Location: Lusaka, Zambia
Previous Role: Environmental Science Graduate (Unemployed)
Current Role: Waste Management Coordinator, Lusaka City Council
Course Completion Time: 4 months (September 2024 - December 2024)
The Challenge
In August 2024, Chanda found herself at a crossroads. Despite having a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Zambia, she had been struggling to find meaningful employment for over a year. The jobs she applied for either required specific waste management expertise she didn't have, or paid very little.
Her Frustrations:
- 47 job applications rejected due to "lack of practical knowledge"
- Unable to answer technical questions during interviews about waste-to-energy and circular economy
- No hands-on experience with waste management systems
- Couldn't afford expensive certification programs (ZMW 15,000-ZMW 30,000)
- Felt her degree was "too theoretical" for real-world applications
The Turning Point:
In early September 2024, while researching free educational resources, Chanda discovered the Comprehensive Waste Management Course. What caught her attention was:
- Completely free access to all materials
- Real-world resources from EPA, UN-Habitat, and other authorities
- Practical case studies and documentaries
- Free certification options through UN CC:Learn
She decided to give it one last shot before abandoning her dream of working in environmental management.
The Learning Journey
Month 1: Building Foundation (September 2024)
Chanda started with the beginner sections:
Week 1-2: Introduction and Classification
- Watched the Spoken Tutorial Introduction video 3 times, taking detailed notes
- Downloaded and read the EPA Guide for Industrial Waste Management
- Created flashcards for different waste types and their properties
- Completed the Open University module on waste management principles
Week 3-4: Recycling and Composting
- Binge-watched all NH Recycles educational videos
- Downloaded all 7 composting guides and created a comparison chart
- Started her own small composting experiment at home using the Joe Gardener guide
- Watched "Landfill Harmonic" documentary - which moved her to tears and reinforced her passion
Key Moment: After watching the UN-Habitat videos on waste management in different cities, Chanda had an epiphany: "I realized waste management isn't just about garbage trucks and landfills - it's about community transformation, public health, and economic opportunity."
Month 2: Specialization (October 2024)
Focus Areas:
- E-Waste Management: Completed the UN CC:Learn course and earned her first certificate
- Circular Economy: Read all OECD and UNECE reports
- Waste-to-Energy: Watched Pinellas County virtual tours and DOE Energy 101 videos
Practical Application: Chanda started applying her knowledge immediately:
- Organized her apartment compound's first waste segregation drive
- Created educational posters using information from the course
- Contacted 12 residential compounds in Lusaka offering free waste management workshops
- 3 compounds agreed to pilot programs
Results of Pilot Programs:
- Reduced mixed waste by 40% in first month
- Established composting units in 2 compounds
- Created e-waste collection points
- Residents began asking for more information
Month 3: Advanced Studies (November 2024)
Deep Dive Topics:
- Policy and Legislation: Studied EPA regulations and Indian waste management rules
- International Best Practices: Analyzed case studies from the course
- Watched all zero-waste documentaries for inspiration
- Read research papers on circular economy from ResearchGate
Building Portfolio: Chanda created a comprehensive portfolio including:
- Certificate from UN CC:Learn E-Waste Course
- Before/after photos from her residential compound projects
- Data showing waste reduction percentages
- Educational materials she created
- Detailed waste management plan for a 500-household community
Month 4: Application and Success (December 2024)
The Opportunity:
Lusaka City Council announced a new position: Waste Management Coordinator for Clean Lusaka Initiative. The role required:
- Understanding of waste segregation and recycling
- Knowledge of circular economy principles
- Experience with community engagement
- Familiarity with international best practices
The Interview:
Chanda's interview was scheduled for December 10, 2024. Armed with knowledge from the course, she prepared extensively:
Question 1: "What is your understanding of circular economy in waste management?"
- Chanda's Answer: Drew from the EPA Circular Economy guide and RTS resources, explaining the shift from linear to circular models, gave examples from Sweden and Denmark (from the Waste-to-Energy articles), and proposed how Lusaka could implement similar principles.
Question 2: "How would you handle a community that resists waste segregation?"
- Chanda's Answer: Referenced the UN-Habitat case studies on community-based collection schemes in Osaka, shared her own success story from the residential compounds, and outlined a step-by-step engagement plan using strategies from the TeachEngineering lesson plans.
Question 3: "What's your approach to e-waste management?"
- Chanda's Answer: Cited her UN CC:Learn certification, discussed the problems highlighted in the PBS documentary, referenced the 5 countries leading e-waste recycling (from WEF article), and presented a detailed proposal for e-waste collection centers in Lusaka.