My Green Home was founded in 2017 as the happy by-product of an environmental sustainability class and two bright students who wanted to give back to their communities. Using recycled plastic waste and sand, David Kinzuzi and Rosette Muhoza created an environmentally friendly paving solution that’s both durable and affordable. The cofounders competed with over a hundred applicants to receive business coaching from UNICEF Inkomoko Entrepreneur Development, and the company took first place in a UNICEF and Airtel pitch competition. They also won an award at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in 2018, and the funding received from their success at both of these events allowed them to make My Green Home a viable business. 

Since then, David and Rosette have expanded their team and offerings to include services such as delivery and bricklaying. However, it’s the process of how each brick is made that’s most remarkable. The My Green Home team gathers plastic waste from four collection points across Kigali and sorts it, ensuring that what can’t be used goes to another recycling partner. The plastic is washed and shredded, then melted and mixed with sand before being molded. The resulting brick is a highly durable product that represents a step forward in eco-friendly construction. 

The founders received $5,000 from the UNICEF Innovation Fund, which financed startup costs. They also received $5,000 as winners of the YouthConnekt Africa Green Growth Innovation Award, which allowed them to increase production capacity. 

Main Photo by: Alex Niragira