Monthly Archives: August 2019

Community Outreach

UNICEF and Conceptos Plasticos Launch Recycled Plastic Brick Factory

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UNICEF
Image: UNICEF.org

The founder and CEO of Allied Wallet, Dr. Andy Khawaja has expanded the company into one of the leading businesses in the digital payments industry. Dr. Andy Khawaja gives back to the community by contributing to various nonprofit organizations, including UNICEF.

An international humanitarian aid organization dedicated to saving the lives and defending the rights of children, UNICEF partnered with Conceptos Plasticos, a social enterprise in Colombia, to launch Africa’s first-ever recycled plastic brick factory. The factory will be the main hub for transforming plastic waste into construction materials.

Abidjan, a city in West Africa, produces more than 280 metric tons of plastic waste, with 95 percent ending up in landfills that are home to many people with low incomes. When the plastic brick factory is operational, it will recycle nearly 10,000 metric tons of plastic waste each year and turn it into durable, fire-resistant, and affordable bricks to build houses, classrooms, and other buildings. The factory will also reduce environmental harm and provide jobs to vulnerable families.

Community Outreach

WWP Annual Survey Highlights Scope of PTSD Among Veterans

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Wounded Warrior Project
Image: WoundedWarriorProject.org

Andy Khawaja is an award-winning tech entrepreneur who founded Allied Wallet in 2005 and has since built the company to earn distinction as one of the world’s premier online payment processing enterprises. In addition to his professional pursuits, Andy Khawaja is an accomplished philanthropist who supports nonprofits such as Action Innocence, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

According to the most recent WWP Annual Warrior Survey, 78.2 percent of the veterans served by the nonprofit agency report experiencing PTSD symptoms. These symptoms include trouble sleeping and concentrating, flashbacks of traumatic experiences, emotional numbness, and increased feelings of irritation and aggravation. Despite the number of veterans who experience PTSD symptoms, there is still a stigma surrounding the disorder. In fact, one-third of survey respondents stated they either put off receiving mental health care or didn’t get the care they required.

Beyond the stigma, these respondents cited reasons such as a lack of resources in their respective regions or conflicts in work schedules for not receiving PTSD treatment. Understanding that treatment varies by the individual, WWP offers free programming such as the Warrior Care Network, dedicated phone support, and mental health workshops. Moreover, those who required immediate emergency attention should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.