Ep 32. Reconnecting to Nature and Life through Circular Design with Mona Mijthab (Founder Mosan)
My guest this episode is Mona Mijthab, social entrepreneur, international speaker and designer with a focus on circular design and social innovation.
Mona founded Mosan, a social enterprise improving living conditions in low-income communities thorugh circular sanitation systems, offering safe sanitation to people while also transforming human excreta into nutrient-rich biochar for soil health in agriculture.
Mosan currently offers its services in indigenous communities in the Lake Atitlàn region of Guatemala, where they work together to improve hygiene standards, protect water and environment, and create opportunities for community members.
In this episode, Mona and I talk about how Mosan came to life and why 2023 is the most exciting year for their team so far, as well as:
Why she shifted from traditional design to design for social innovation
How the smart, circular, dry sanitation system developed by Mosan works
The multiple social, health and environmental benefits it brings
How they use human excreta and urine to produce biochar for soil regeneration and food production
What circular, participatory and inclusive design looks like on the ground
How building local innovation ecosystems, relationship and trust has been key to their success
Why not being afraid of failure is a great asset in creating change
How incremental innovation supports transformative changes
What everyone should know about sanitation and circularity, especially if you live in a city
What Mona has learned about leadership from the communities she works with
Find more information about Mona Mijthab go to https://www.linkedin.com/in/monamijthab/
Find more information about Mosan on https://mosan.com/
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