When the future of cities increasingly depends on ecological consciousness, innovation, and social inclusion, voices from the Global South are becoming ever more essential in shaping a sustainable global agenda. Among these inspiring changemakers is Philile Dlamini, co-founder of EcoHarmony Eswatini, an organization dedicated to empowering youth and women through circular economy initiatives and waste management solutions in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
During the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Philile Dlamini shared her thoughts on urban sustainability, eco-innovation, and the transformative role of creativity in addressing some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges in an interview with Jamala Nakhchivani, Editor-in-Chief of Global Art magazine.
— Welcome to the Global Art magazine! Please, share your impressions of the WUF13.
— Greeting to all of your readers! I am Philile Dlamini, and I come from the Kingdom of Eswatini, located between South Africa and Mozambique. I represent EcoHarmony Eswatini, an organization focused on empowering young people and women in the fields of circular economy and waste management.
The WUF13 has been truly amazing. It is an important international platform where we are able to participate actively and ensure that our voices are heard, through the main sessions and side events hosted by the Global South NGO Platform. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the openness of the dialogue taking place here in Baku.
— What do you believe will be one of the main successes or outcomes of the Forum?
— One of the greatest achievements of the Forum is the exchange of ideas and practical solutions to the challenges faced by cities across the Global South. Events like this help us build global resilience together. For example, during our stay in Azerbaijan, we had the opportunity to visit Karabakh and observe the development of an eco-city model there. It was extremely inspiring. Such initiatives demonstrate how innovation and sustainability can work hand in hand to rebuild communities and create environmentally responsible urban spaces.
I believe this model can serve as an example for many other countries, including ours. We hope to continue engaging with our governments back home so that similar sustainable approaches can eventually be implemented in Eswatini and beyond.
— Do you believe that creativity and innovative thinking are essential in addressing environmental and urban challenges?
— Absolutely. Innovation and creativity are key to solving many of the problems our societies are facing today.
In my country, for instance, there is a remarkable group of young people who collect waste materials and recycle them into entirely new products. One beautiful example is the production of shoes made from recycled plastic.
These plastic shoes are then provided to underprivileged children who otherwise would not have proper school shoes. In this way, we are addressing two important issues simultaneously: reducing environmental waste and supporting children’s access to education and dignity.
This demonstrates how creative thinking can transform environmental problems into opportunities for social impact and human development.
Interview conducted by Jamala Nakhchivani, Editor-in-Chief of Global Art magazine
