TEDWomen 2015
Achenyo Idachaba: How I turned a deadly plant into a thriving business
阿健妮．達奢巴: 我如何化致命的植物為盎然的商機
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Readability: 4.8
1,836,174 views
布袋蓮看起來是漂亮而無害的花卉──事實卻是有侵略性的野生水草，會堵住水道、妨礙貿易、阻礙孩童上學、打亂日常生活。環保創業者阿健妮．達奢巴從這禍害裡看到了商機。我們來看看她將水草化為神奇織品的創業旅程。
Achenyo Idachaba - Green entrepreneur
Achenyo Idachaba is the head of MitiMeth, a Nigeria-based company that makes handicrafts from aquatic weeds and other agro-waste. Full bio
Achenyo Idachaba is the head of MitiMeth, a Nigeria-based company that makes handicrafts from aquatic weeds and other agro-waste. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Welcome to Bayeku,
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歡迎來到百耶庫，
00:15
a riverine community in Ikorodu, Lagos --
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這個河岸社區位於
拉各斯州的伊科羅杜，
拉各斯州的伊科羅杜，
00:18
a vivid representation of several
riverine communities across Nigeria,
riverine communities across Nigeria,
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是奈及利亞各地
眾多河岸社區的鮮明代表。
眾多河岸社區的鮮明代表。
00:24
communities whose waterways
have been infested
have been infested
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這些社區的水道
00:28
by an invasive aquatic weed;
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被一種有侵略性的野生水草侵擾。
00:31
communities where economic livelihoods
have been hampered:
have been hampered:
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這些社區的日常經濟活動都被干擾：
00:37
fishing, marine transportation
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捕魚、海洋運輸
00:40
and trading;
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以至貿易；
00:41
communities where fish yields
have diminished;
have diminished;
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這些社區的魚獲都已減少；
00:45
communities where schoolchildren
are unable to go to school
are unable to go to school
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這些社區的孩童不能上學，
00:50
for days, sometimes weeks, on end.
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連續數天甚至數星期。
00:54
Who would have thought that this plant
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有誰料到這樣的植物──
00:57
with round leaves, inflated stems,
and showy, lavender flowers
and showy, lavender flowers
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長著圓形葉子、飽滿的莖
和鮮豔淡紫色的花朵
和鮮豔淡紫色的花朵
01:04
would cause such havoc
in these communities.
in these communities.
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竟就會為這些社區帶來了禍害。
01:08
The plant is known as water hyacinth
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這種植物是布袋蓮，
01:11
and its botanical name,
Eichhornia crassipes.
Eichhornia crassipes.
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其學名為鳳眼藍。
01:14
Interestingly, in Nigeria,
the plant is also known by other names,
the plant is also known by other names,
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有趣的是，在奈及利亞，
這種植物亦有好幾種其他名號，
這種植物亦有好幾種其他名號，
01:18
names associated with historical events,
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有些與歷史事件有關，
01:21
as well as myths.
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有些則是神話。
01:23
In some places,
the plant is called Babangida.
the plant is called Babangida.
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在某些地方，這種植物稱為「巴班基達」，
01:27
When you hear Babangida, you remember
the military and military coups.
the military and military coups.
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聽到巴班基達這個名稱，
你會記起軍隊和軍事政變，
你會記起軍隊和軍事政變，
01:32
And you think: fear, restraint.
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從而想到：害怕、限制。
01:36
In parts of Nigeria in the Niger Delta,
the plant is also known as Abiola.
the plant is also known as Abiola.
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在奈及利亞的奈及利亞三角洲，
這種植物亦被稱為「阿比奥拉」。
這種植物亦被稱為「阿比奥拉」。
01:41
When you hear Abiola,
you remember annulled elections
you remember annulled elections
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聽到阿比奥拉這個名稱，
你會記起選舉無效，
你會記起選舉無效，
01:46
and you think: dashed hopes.
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從而想到：破碎的希望。
01:48
In the southwestern part of Nigeria,
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在奈及利亞的西北部，
01:51
the plant is known as Gbe'borun.
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這種植物另被稱為「貝布魯」，
01:53
Gbe'borun is a Yoruba phrase
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「貝布魯」是約魯巴的詞彙，
01:55
which translates to "gossip,"
or "talebearer."
or "talebearer."
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意思是「流言蜚語」或「告密者」。
01:59
When you think of gossip, you think:
rapid reproduction, destruction.
rapid reproduction, destruction.
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說到流言蜚語，
你會想起快速繁殖和破壞。
你會想起快速繁殖和破壞。
02:05
And in the Igala-speaking part of Nigeria,
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在奈及利亞說伊加拉語的地區，
02:07
the plant is known as A Kp'iye Kp'oma,
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這種植物被稱為「阿匹耶波瑪」，
02:10
And when you hear that,
you think of death.
you think of death.
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聽到這個詞，你會想到死亡，
02:13
It literally translates
to "death to mother and child."
to "death to mother and child."
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字面上直譯就是「母親和孩子之歿」。
02:18
I personally had my encounter
with this plant in the year 2009.
with this plant in the year 2009.
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我自己是在 2009 年遇上這植物的。
02:23
It was shortly after I had relocated
from the US to Nigeria.
from the US to Nigeria.
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那時候我剛從美國搬回奈及利亞不久。
02:28
I'd quit my job in corporate America
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我辭掉美國的工作，
02:31
and decided to take
this big leap of faith,
this big leap of faith,
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決定實踐心中的一種信念，
02:34
a leap of faith that came
out of a deep sense of conviction
out of a deep sense of conviction
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那種信念源自心底
02:38
that there was a lot of work
to do in Nigeria
to do in Nigeria
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確信在奈及利亞的永續發展方面，
02:40
in the area of sustainable development.
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尚需很多努力。
02:42
And so here I was in the year 2009,
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於是我在 2009 年，
02:45
actually, at the end of 2009,
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更確切是在 2009 年底，
02:48
in Lagos on the Third Mainland Bridge.
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在連接拉哥斯和兩邊大陸的
第三大陸橋。
第三大陸橋。
02:51
And I looked to my left
and saw this very arresting image.
and saw this very arresting image.
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我看到左邊有一幕引人注目的景象，
02:55
It was an image of fishing boats
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那景象是捕魚的船
02:57
that had been hemmed in
by dense mats of water hyacinth.
by dense mats of water hyacinth.
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都被布袋蓮交織得動彈不得。
03:03
And I was really pained by what I saw
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我看到這景象很痛心，
03:05
because I thought to myself,
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因為我心想：
03:07
"These poor fisherfolk,
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「這班可憐的漁夫，
03:09
how are they going
to go about their daily activities
to go about their daily activities
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他們的生財工具被布袋蓮這樣子困著
03:13
with these restrictions."
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該怎麼討生活。」
03:16
And then I thought,
"There's got to be a better way."
"There's got to be a better way."
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於是我想：「總是有更好的點子吧。」
03:19
A win-win solution whereby
the environment is taken care of
the environment is taken care of
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總可以有一個雙贏的方案，
一方面保護環境，
一方面保護環境，
03:24
by the weeds being cleared out of the way
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移除這些水草開通了水路。
03:26
and then this being turned
into an economic benefit
into an economic benefit
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另一方面，借此又可以帶來經濟效用，
03:29
for the communities
whose lives are impacted the most
whose lives are impacted the most
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裨益那些最受困於
03:32
by the infestation of the weed.
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這類水草繁殖的社區。
03:35
That, I would say, was my spark moment.
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我會說，那一刻我靈光一閃。
03:38
And so I did further research
to find out more
to find out more
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所以我再加緊做功課，
希望從中發掘出這類水草的用處。
03:42
about the beneficial uses of this weed.
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03:45
Out of the several,
one struck me the most.
one struck me the most.
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發掘出來的幾項，
其中有一項最令我傾倒。
其中有一項最令我傾倒。
03:48
It was the use of the plant
for handicrafts.
for handicrafts.
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那就是把這種植物化為手工藝品。
03:51
And I thought, "What a great idea."
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我想：「那真是很棒的點子。」
03:54
Personally, I love handicrafts,
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我自己很喜愛手工藝品，
03:56
especially handicrafts
that are woven around a story.
that are woven around a story.
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尤其是蘊藏故事的手工藝品。
04:01
And so I thought, "This could be
easily deployed within the communities
easily deployed within the communities
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我再想：「其實很容易就可以
把這個想法落實在社區裡，
把這個想法落實在社區裡，
04:05
without the requirement
of technical skills."
of technical skills."
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因為不需要特別的技巧。」
04:09
And I thought to myself,
"Three simple steps to a mega solution."
"Three simple steps to a mega solution."
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我又跟自己說：
「實踐這個宏大方案有三步。」
「實踐這個宏大方案有三步。」
04:15
First step: Get out into the waterways
and harvest the water hyacinth.
and harvest the water hyacinth.
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第一步：走到水道裡，
把水草都收割起來。
把水草都收割起來。
04:20
That way, you create access.
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如此，就開通了水道。
04:22
Secondly, you dry
the water hyacinth stems.
the water hyacinth stems.
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第二步，把水草莖晾乾。
04:27
And thirdly, you weave
the water hyacinth into products.
the water hyacinth into products.
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第三步，把水草織成產品。
04:32
The third step was a challenge.
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第三步滿是一個挑戰。
04:34
See, I'm a computer scientist
by background
by background
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因為我其實是學電腦科學的，
04:37
and not someone in the creative arts.
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並不是創意工藝的一員。
04:40
And so I began my quest
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所以我展開了搜索之旅，
04:42
to find out how I can learn how to weave.
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看看怎樣學會編織。
04:45
And this quest took me
to a community in Ibadan, where I lived,
to a community in Ibadan, where I lived,
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這趟的搜索之旅帶我來到
我住的伊巴丹地區中的社區：
我住的伊巴丹地區中的社區：
04:49
called Sabo.
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莎寶。
04:50
Sabo translates to "strangers' quarters."
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莎寶譯出來是「陌生人的叢居」。
04:53
And the community is
predominantly made up of people
predominantly made up of people
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這個社區主要的居民
04:56
from the northern part of the country.
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來自這個國家的北部。
04:58
So I literally took
my dried weeds in hand,
my dried weeds in hand,
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我是真的捧著這堆晾乾了的水草，
05:01
there were several more of them,
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事實上有好幾束，
05:03
and went knocking from door to door
to find out who could teach me
to find out who could teach me
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逐家逐戶地拜訪，
希望找到能教我
希望找到能教我
05:06
how to weave these
water hyacinth stems into ropes.
water hyacinth stems into ropes.
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把布袋蓮的莖編織成繩索的人。
05:10
And I was directed
to the shed of Malam Yahaya.
to the shed of Malam Yahaya.
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有人要我到瑪蘭雅雅的邊棚，
05:14
The problem, though,
is that Malam Yahaya doesn't speak English
is that Malam Yahaya doesn't speak English
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問題是，瑪蘭雅雅不會說英語，
05:17
and neither did I speak Hausa.
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而我也不會說豪撒語。
05:20
But some little kids came to the rescue
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不過小孩們成了救星，
05:22
and helped translate.
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幫忙翻譯。
05:24
And that began my journey
of learning how to weave
of learning how to weave
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我就是這樣開始了學習編織的旅程，
05:27
and transform these
dried water hyacinth stems
dried water hyacinth stems
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學會將晾乾了的水草莖
05:31
into long ropes.
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編織成為長長的繩索。
05:35
With my long ropes in hand,
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手上握著長長的繩索，
05:37
I was now equipped to make products.
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我就能夠將之化為產品。
05:40
And that was the beginning
of partnerships.
of partnerships.
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從而展開了搭檔的方向。
05:43
Working with rattan basket makers
to come up with products.
to come up with products.
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與藤籃的生產者搭檔研發產品。
05:47
So with this in hand, I felt confident
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有這個在手，我有信心
05:50
that I would be able
to take this knowledge
to take this knowledge
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可以把這技能
05:52
back into the riverine communities
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帶到社區裡，
05:54
and help them to transform
their adversity into prosperity.
their adversity into prosperity.
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好幫助他們把逆境化為繁盛。
05:59
So taking these weeds
and actually weaving them
and actually weaving them
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於是我們把這些水草編織起來
06:03
into products that can be sold.
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成為可以銷售的產品。
06:05
So we have pens, we have tableware,
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可以看到我們有筆、餐具，
06:09
we have purses, we have tissue boxes.
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我們有錢包、面紙盒。
06:13
Thereby, helping the communities
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這樣一來，幫助了社區
06:15
to see water hyacinth
in a different light.
in a different light.
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從另一個角度去了解布袋蓮。
06:19
Seeing water hyacinth as being valuable,
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了解到布袋蓮可以有價值，
06:21
being aesthetic,
being durable, tough, resilient.
being durable, tough, resilient.
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可以有美感、耐用、堅實而有韌力。
06:27
Changing names, changing livelihoods.
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改變了名號，改變了生活。
06:31
From Gbe'borun, gossip,
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從「貝布魯」：流言蜚語，
06:34
to Olusotan, storyteller.
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變成了「歐魯蘇坦」：說故事者。
06:37
And from A Kp'iye Kp'oma,
which is "killer of mother and child,"
which is "killer of mother and child,"
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從「阿匹耶波瑪」：弒母子的殺手，
06:41
to Ya du j'ewn w'Iye kp'Oma,
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變成了「雅度節耶波瑪」：
06:43
"provider of food for mother and child."
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餵養母子者。
06:46
And I'd like to end
with a quote by Michael Margolis.
with a quote by Michael Margolis.
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最後，我想引用麥可．馬哥拉斯的
一句話作結。
一句話作結。
06:50
He said, "If you want to learn
about a culture, listen to the stories.
about a culture, listen to the stories.
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他說：「如果你想學懂一種文化，
聆聽他們的故事。
聆聽他們的故事。
06:55
And if you want to change a culture,
change the stories."
change the stories."
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如果你想改變一種文化，
就改變他們的故事。」
就改變他們的故事。」
06:59
And so, from Makoko community,
to Abobiri, to Ewoi,
to Abobiri, to Ewoi,
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所以，從瑪科科社區，
到亞博畢瑞，到耶握依，
到亞博畢瑞，到耶握依，
07:05
to Kolo, to Owahwa, Esaba,
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再到柯洛、奧瓦瓦、艾沙巴社區，
07:08
we have changed the story.
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我們都改變了故事。
07:11
Thank you for listening.
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謝謝聆聽。
07:12
(Applause)
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（掌聲）
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Achenyo Idachaba - Green entrepreneurAchenyo Idachaba is the head of MitiMeth, a Nigeria-based company that makes handicrafts from aquatic weeds and other agro-waste.
Why you should listen
In 2009, Achenyo Idachaba bid her corporate career in the United States goodbye and relocated to Nigeria to start a new chapter as a social entrepreneur. She founded Greennovative Chain, which provided research and advocacy services in climate change mitigation, and later founded MitiMeth, a for-profit social enterprise based in Ibadan, Nigeria, which she considers a tangible expression of her research advice.
MitiMeth creates eco-friendly handicrafts like home décor and personal accessories from weeds prevalent on Nigeria’s waterways. The company also conducts training workshops for locals on river handicraft product development.
Achenyo Idachaba | Speaker | TED.com