WEYSHET’S GROWTH STORY
A Pathway Out of Uncertainty
In Harar, Ethiopia, the circular economy is quietly reshaping what opportunity looks like for young women, many of whom have long navigated the uncertain space between education, unpaid care responsibilities, informal work, and survival-driven livelihoods.
For years, waste collection and small-scale vending offered one of the few accessible income streams for young women in the city. But these activities often came with instability: unpredictable earnings, long hours, and limited pathways for growth. It is within this context that the emergence of formal circular economy enterprises such as Kubik is beginning to shift not only how waste is managed, but how dignity, skills, and structured employment are created for young people.
Weynshet Selomon’s journey sits at the heart of this shift.
Like many of her peers, Weynshet’s early working life was fragmented, divided between school, part-time work in a cafe and informal waste collection to make ends meet. The constant movement between responsibilities left little room for stability or planning for the future, particularly as a young woman trying to stay in school while supporting herself.
“It was very chaotic. I had to run between school and work, and the income was inconsistent. There were times I didn’t even know how I would pay for my school fees.”
Weynshet Selomon
The pressure was not only financial. It was also about time, energy and the quiet uncertainty that comes from not knowing what the next month, or even the next week, might hold. For many young Ethiopians, securing stable employment remains a significant challenge. Formal jobs that offer predictable income, skills development and opportunities for advancement are often difficult to access, particularly for young women. As a result, many are forced to rely on informal economic activities that provide little security and few opportunities to build long-term careers.
It is within this context that enterprises like Kubik are creating new pathways into the formal economy, enabling young people to transition from survival-driven livelihoods to structured employment that fosters growth and resilience. By formalising parts of the circular plastics value chain, Kubik is helping convert fragmented, informal work into structured employment opportunities.
“Previously, I collected water bottles and sold them to Kubik. But now, with this full-time job, my life has improved significantly.”
Weynshet Selomon
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Where Plastic Waste Builds Homes
Weynshet sorts and bales plastic materials for recycling, working as part of a team building efficiency and scale in a growing circular economy enterprise. Over time, she has learned to operate machinery, understand operational workflows and contribute to improving processes on the ground. She is gaining exposure to technical processes, operational systems, teamwork and problem-solving skills that are increasingly valuable in emerging green industries. What begins with sorting and processing plastic waste can evolve into broader professional capabilities that remain valuable throughout a person’s career.
“When I work with people at Kubik, they listen to us and create an environment where we can all prosper. I feel confident in sharing my ideas and taking initiative.”
Weynshet Selomon
The significance of her work extends beyond her individual role. Ethiopia faces both a growing plastic waste challenge and a significant housing shortage. Kubik addresses these interconnected issues by transforming hard-to-recycle plastic waste into affordable, low-carbon construction materials. In doing so, the company is helping create a circular economy where environmental solutions generate economic opportunities for local communities, particularly young people entering the workforce.
WHAT CHANGED
Income That Lets Her Plan
Her monthly earnings have more than doubled, giving her the equivalent of earning enough to cover two months’ expenses with what once would have paid for only one. This transformation has expanded what she can afford and strengthened her ability to plan for the future.
“With my income, I can pay my school fees and help my family. We were even able to buy an oven for home, something we never had before.”
Weynshet Selomon
Dignified work is about more than earning a salary. It provides stability, purpose and the ability to plan for the future. At Kubik, Weynshet describes an environment that actively supports growth and values contribution.
This sense of being heard and respected has become central to her experience. In a sector where informal labour is often invisible, the act of being recognised as an employee, and as a contributor to a larger system, has had a profound impact on her confidence and ambition.
Weynshet now speaks not only about stability, but about possibility. She has developed a clearer sense of direction and a renewed commitment to her education, with long-term aspirations of becoming a lawyer. In her view, the discipline, responsibility and communication skills she is developing in her current role are laying the groundwork for that future.
Stories like Weynshet’s are enabled through catalytic capital deployed by the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund, which flows through investment vehicles such as the Kazana Fund to support enterprises like Kubik. This capital plays a critical role in enabling growth-stage companies to scale inclusive business models that generate dignified jobs, particularly for young people and women who are often excluded from formal labour markets.
At its core, Weynshet’s journey is not only about employment. It is about what happens when young women are given access to stable work environments, skills development and the dignity of being part of a system that values their contribution.
