Trash for cash: South Africans fight hunger with digital currency

By Kim Harrisberg

TECH
Tuesday, 10 Nov 2020
5:10 PM MYT

Mimi Ngalula smiles for a photo as she holds up her recycling card with unique QR code that monitors her points in Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

JOHANNESBURG: Mimi Ngalula never imagined cardboard boxes, cans and bottles would save her five children from hunger during lockdown, but over the past four months, digging through Johannesburg’s trash cans has become her lifeline.

Ngalula, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is one of hundreds of people in the neighbourhood of Lorentzville who joined a project to exchange recyclables for a digital currency that they use to buy much-needed groceries.

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Monthly Plan

~~RM13.90/month~~
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

~~RM12.33/month~~
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

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Mimi Ngalula smiles for a photo as she holds up her recycling card with unique QR code that monitors her points in Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A group of volunteers pose for a photo behind a table of donated food products in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Magwaza smiles for a photo in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Ngalula sorts through the cardboard materials she brought to the depot in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A group of women lining up to buy groceries at the Swap Shop in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

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Symbol	Open	High	Low	Last	Chg	%Chg	Vol ('00)
HSI-PWFZ	0.115	0.125	0.115	0.120	0.010	9.09	2,399,764
HSI-PWHC	0.105	0.105	0.090	0.095	-0.005	-5.00	1,881,695
HSI-CWEY	0.200	0.205	0.195	0.200	-0.015	-6.98	1,656,270
HSI-CWGB	0.175	0.175	0.160	0.165	-0.020	-10.81	961,688
HSI-CWGS	0.165	0.165	0.155	0.165	-0.005	-2.94	773,659
HSI-CWEZ	0.085	0.095	0.085	0.085	-0.015	-15.00	601,831
HSI-PWHT	0.090	0.090	0.080	0.080	-0.010	-11.11	601,375
TANCO	0.930	0.940	0.925	0.930	0.000	0.00	440,293
RL	0.220	0.230	0.195	0.205	-0.020	-8.89	379,674
YTL	2.150	2.280	2.140	2.270	0.130	6.07	362,190
GOCEAN	0.115	0.115	0.080	0.090	-0.025	-21.74	351,756
SNS	0.555	0.560	0.530	0.545	-0.015	-2.68	327,602
MYEG	0.935	0.945	0.930	0.940	0.005	0.53	326,017
TWL	0.030	0.030	0.025	0.030	0.005	20.00	322,804
ECOSHOP-CJ	0.095	0.100	0.095	0.095	0.000	0.00	294,024

Trash for cash: South Africans fight hunger with digital currency

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Monthly Plan

Annual Plan

1 month

Mimi Ngalula smiles for a photo as she holds up her recycling card with unique QR code that monitors her points in Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A group of volunteers pose for a photo behind a table of donated food products in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Magwaza smiles for a photo in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Ngalula sorts through the cardboard materials she brought to the depot in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A group of women lining up to buy groceries at the Swap Shop in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

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Trash for cash: South Africans fight hunger with digital currency

Unlock 30% Savings on Ad-Free Access Now!

Monthly Plan

Annual Plan

1 month

Mimi Ngalula smiles for a photo as she holds up her recycling card with unique QR code that monitors her points in Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A group of volunteers pose for a photo behind a table of donated food products in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Magwaza smiles for a photo in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

Ngalula sorts through the cardboard materials she brought to the depot in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

A group of women lining up to buy groceries at the Swap Shop in the Johannesburg suburb of Lorentzville, South Africa. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

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Market Summary

FBM KLCI

29,012,386

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