Mafi-Kumase Diary: Beatrice Senahe, 78-year-old waste picker asks for support

While channelling individual strengths into menial jobs can easily pay off, it may not feel that way to a 78-year-old Mama Beatrice Senahe from Tsrinikofe, a suburb of Mafi-Kumase.

This week, the Mafi-Kumase Diary shares some insights into the challenges experienced by Mama Senahe; the woman who earns a living by picking solid wastes from dumpsites, households, institutions and streets for waste recyclers or re-users.

Speaking to the news crew, Mama Senahe has disclosed that she’s depended on proceeds from picking and sorting solid wastes for the past two years. She revealed what she closely earns every fortnight:

“Every two weeks, I sell 1 sack load of sachet rubber waste for GHS20.00, and 1 sack load of metal waste (scrap) usually goes for GHS5.00 and GHS10.00 depending on the weight.”

Before working as a waste picker, Mama Senahe lived in Yeji, where she worked as a baker. Upon her return, she turned to sell beads in the local market at Mafi-Kumase. But circumstances didn’t survive her new business. “I lost almost everything I’ve laboured for to my mother’s ill-health,” She conceded.

At present, she runs patchy errands and makes fewer incomes by picking waste, sorting it, and selling it to middlemen to be recycled. She, however, explained that her new work couldn’t make her ends meet as a mother of three.

“Taking care of home isn’t comfortable for me because what I earn isn’t enough. My youngest child is in secondary school. In the end, there’s nothing usually left for her upkeep, and also to take care of my health. I’m not even talking about saving,” she stated.

Despite her efforts to support her family through this odd job, there are disturbing concerns about Mama Senahe’s safety and well-being because her working conditions are poor and face particular risks:

“At my age, I still roam dumping sites through a blazing sun without protective items. There are a lot of injuries I suffer from, but being unable to work means not earning income,” she said melancholically.

After all, one would have expected that Mama Senahe’s way of making little income from community waste would be relatively smooth. But, she currently battles with many cheats and mockers for professionalizing in picking and sorting trash for sale:

“Regularly, I encountered all manner of cheatings from my buyers. Meanwhile, disrespect from young community members is an everyday part of my work life,” she revealed.

She, however, made no secret of her willingness to negotiate for less demanding work after months of work as a waste picker: “I’m too tired of this work. My legs could hardly carry me. More so, I’ve got a problem with my eyes too. I could hardly see the things I’m out there to pick,” she confirmed.

For her age, Mama Senahe wants to take to petty trading as an alternative livelihood. She prays individuals and the philanthropic community see her struggles to secure a start-up capital for her to commence her proposed business.

[Acknowledgement: My sincerest appreciation goes to the MAFI-KUMASE DIARY crew, particularly Frank Ali and Samuel Tutu, for their contributions].