Young&amazing: Kyazze found gold in old car tyres

Karen Kyazze creates and moulds works out of waste. An artist and entrepreneur, the 23-year-old recycles old car tyres and used bottles into chairs, tables, frames, souvenirs and decorations.
Kyazze discovered her creativity at childhood. She loved fabricating things from paper and made houses from old boxes, as opposed to playing with dolls.

“During my Senior Six vacation, my parents didn’t want me to work due to unethical working conditions associated with workplaces. However, a paternal aunt of mine shared with me images of beautifully made flower vases. They were made out of old car tyres. Fortunately, we had two old car tyres in the backyard and I knew I would do something out of them,” she says.

Starting out
Kyazze says with the Shs150,000 pocket money she had, she decided to make a table that she would use at university.
“I used the money to buy materials like glue, nails, leather and I put a table together. I thought I would use it at university, however, when my uncle saw it, he was impressed and bought it at Shs250,000 which fuelled my motivation to start a business,” she says.
Months later, she joined university and her interest shifted to water fountains due to their uniqueness and income generating prospect.
“I embarked on research about its operations. I noticed they used water pumps to pump the water repetitively. I thought of making fountains out of clay, cement or glass but all would break if exposed to water over time,” she says.

Kyazze then resorted to steel and shared the idea with a friend who had some knowledge on the matter.
“We made a fountain of a fish, but it didn’t turn out as we expected. We redid it. For every challenge that comes my way, I look out for an opportunity. I was consistent and determined. I invested Shs500,000 and sold it to Chez Johnson [hotel] at Shs600,000. I started a Facebook page named Karen Creations, where I advertised the products,” she says.

Juggling work, books
While at university, Kyazze would make the tables on order as she juggled work and books. She got the tyres from garages, relatives and friends.
Over time she has been able to improve the quality of the tables. In the beginning it was about paint. But she now uses leather, rope, sisal and old jeans.
“We also use stones on the table and it looks beautiful. Also we recycle tiles that have been left as waste pieces and the table looks artistic and amazing,” she says.

The tables cost between Shs200,000 and Shs300,000 and wall mirrors and art paintings on tyre frame cost Shs100, 000. She also makes souvenirs from sea stones by putting words on them.
Besides offering trainings on how to make tables and chairs, Kyazze also runs a boutique that sells shoes, perfumes and jewellery in Luwafu, Makindye, to supplement her income.

Challenges
Kyazze says inadequate capital to finance her other projects such as recycling polythene into pavers and other construction materials is her major challenge.
“This would open more employment opportunities for others because I believe in investment in humanity is the greatest investment ever. We intend to create jobs and empower others, but we haven’t pulled off that project,” she says.

Kyazze encourages the youth to embrace recycling since it has an impact on environment.
“We need to recycle and use resources around us to generate income; don’t look too far to think that money will come from somewhere else. Use the resources that you have to get money.”