By Violet Li
Anyone would be awed by the mountains of black plastic bags with thousands of bottles in Esther Keji’s backyard in Lynbrook.
The single mum of two children originally from Uganda started collecting recycling materials like water bottles and cans about five months ago when the State Government announced its container deposit scheme.
Under the scheme, Victorians are rewarded 10 cents for each eligible can, carton, and bottle they return.
Esther has always believed in the importance of looking after the environment and she reckoned it would be a great opportunity to teach the young children how to recycle things.
A quest for bottles set sail.
She reached out to her Lynbrook communities in early stages of events like wedding, parties, and any kind of celebration.
Gradually, the households would collect bottles in their homes and drop bags at Esther’s doorstep.
People would often ask Esther what she was going to do with the money and her answer would constantly be convincing and powerful.
“I run a small charity and all the money I raise from the scheme will be used to build a school in the refugee camps in Uganda to cater for the educational needs of the children,” she said.
“And after hearing these words, at any event, there is always someone who will think of Esther.”
Paulino Loro Foundation is named after Esther’s late husband, a South Sudanese man who migrated to Australia as a refugee in 2001.
As a man who held firm belief in giving back to the community, he intended to establish a foundation to support children in the refugee camps in Uganda, but misfortune hit first in 2016 when he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and passed away not long after.
His family decided to make the foundation his legacy to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Northern Uganda refugee camps and host communities, East Africa, and locally in Australia in general.
“We have the foundation choir every Friday in Lynbrook Community Centre and they perform in events in Lynbrook and its neighbourhood,” Esther said as the chief executive officer.
“When we raise money, we also support Cancer Council Victoria because I lost my husband through cancer, and I know what many families are going through.
“Some are still fighting to the end. And we always look to a hope that one day they might have a cure for cancer.”
Paulino Loro Foundation is now supporting 55 children in different schools with more on the waiting list.
Esther said six dollars could feed a child in Africa for a month.
“So if I sell those bottles, I may get around $200 and it will be enough to feed more children for months,” she said.
“I just want to thank my communities for donating these bottles to support our charity.”
She is planning to go to Uganda in January next year to make sure the construction of the school is going well.
