When it rains, plastic wastes block waterways, disrupting natural flow and redirecting them instead to where the crops are planted. With floods wiping out the crops, Ireen's community didn't only have their livelihood disrupted, they also had to deal with food shortages. 

This motivated Ireen to  teach her community to manage waste properly. She believes the solution goes beyond behavioral change among individuals. It must also tackle where plastics come from—fossil fuels. With this, she also calls on plastic producers to redesign their packaging and invest in more sustainable solutions.

But more than wreaking havoc through plastic pollution, the fossil fuel industry has also worsened climate disasters. Its expansion through the East African Crude Oil Pipeline further killed thousands of lives and displaced thousands of households. Witnessing these adversities, she joins a movement that provides platforms for solidarity in their community. She also demands big polluters to pay for the loss and damages.