By George Bicknell | Posted to RIBI News & Features
Published Date: November 8, 2021
It has now been 10 years since Worcester Rotarian Samy Wassef got his local Rotary club recycling in order to raise money for international humanitarian projects.
During those 10 years, the club has managed to recycle 38,599 kilograms of metal while raising funds of £14,978. This success was achieved despite changing metal prices, three COVID-19 lockdowns and the threat of recession.
"To establish a successful programme you need to believe it is worth the effort.”
The campaign focussed on collecting scrap metal such as used food cans and over the past decade the club has collected large quantities aluminium, brass, copper, lead, steal and some mixed metals.
During the first 9 years, the average proceeds were £1,330 per year. However, during year 10, with 3 lockdowns in the UK, recycling continued strongly and the money raised during this year (£2,931) was more than twice this average.
Samy and the club have had assistance over the past decade from Worcestershire businesses such as Sencon UK Ltd, P & R Alarms Ltd, St. Peters Garden Centre, JRW Heating & Plumbing Services Ltd & GA Roberts Optometrist.
Samy Wassef got Worcester Rotary Club into recycling in order to raise money for international humanitarian projects.
The scrap metal recycled by Worcester Rotary went towards a variety of amazing causes: a deep water well for a school in the Philippines, supplying 10 artificial limbs for amputees in India and multiple donations totalling £4,400 (over an 8-year period) to help people in 7 African countries obtain access to centres for the visually impaired.
They have also been able to make donations to organisations providing vital support across the world such as Operation Smile UK, Sightsavers, ShelterBox and End Polio Now.
Speaking to Rotary Magazine earlier this year, Samy said of the campaign:
“To establish a successful programme you need to believe it is worth the effort.
“Know that segregated scrap metal has the best value and understand that dissembling equipment to get the metals is a skill.
"But you also need a supportive spouse or partner, as well as supportive Rotarians, neighbours, family, friends, colleagues and businesses.”