Jeanne-Nicole Menemene

Jeanne-Nicole Menemene is an inspiring Congolese environmental entrepreneur and social innovator dedicated to transforming waste into opportunity. She is the Founder and CEO of Plastycor, a social enterprise focused on recycling plastic waste into useful products such as furniture, construction materials, and household items, while also promoting environmental awareness and community sanitation. Through her work, she has trained young people and women in waste management skills, created employment opportunities, and contributed to cleaner communities across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her innovative approach to sustainability earned her recognition as an Ashoka Fellow, highlighting her as one of the continent’s leading social changemakers.

Jeanne-Nicole embodies resilience and purpose, turning personal challenges into a mission to create social and environmental impact. She is passionate about empowering youth, especially young women, to see environmental challenges as opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. Through her leadership, she continues to inspire African mothers and women to lead change within their communities while building solutions that secure a better future for the next generation.