Mannan’s inspirational journey from waste picker to community leader through The Coca-Cola Foundation’s IMPACT-GE Project
Fifty-seven-year-old Abdul Mannan from Dhaka, a waste picker, has transformed his life and livelihood through the IMPACT-GE project supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation in partnership with SR Asia.
Supporting a family of six, Mannan had long endured unfair treatment and delayed payments from local waste vendors, which eroded both his earnings and dignity.
That changed when he joined IMPACT-GE - an initiative designed to strengthen waste management systems while uplifting the lives of waste workers and reducing environmental pollution.
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The project introduced fair pricing and ensured immediate payments, freeing Mannan from the insecurity of dealing with unreliable vendors and giving him newfound financial stability.
"No longer was I just Mannan, the waste picker. With the support of IMPACT-GE, now I am a Change Leader to lead a group of waste collectors consisting of 15 members," he said with pride.
Beyond financial inclusion, the project provided Mannan with business development, health, and safety training.
These sessions helped him manage his operations more efficiently, negotiate better prices, and even open and manage his own bank account — milestones that once seemed out of reach.
Today, as a Change Leader supervising 15 waste collectors, Abdul Mannan stands as a symbol of empowerment and resilience.
His transformation from "Mannan, the waste picker" to "Mannan, the businessman" reflects the tangible impact of community-focused initiatives like IMPACT-GE in building dignity, stability, and opportunity for Bangladesh's waste workforce.
