Awards and news

Anthea and her founding organisations (ARA-UK and Dreamcatcher South Africa), have earned numerous global awards for pioneering work with positive environmental, public health and socio-economic impact. Working across West- and South East of England, and South African township communities, to innovate, develop, trial and research impact, for over 2 decades, she named the model: ‘Waste it’s Mine it’s Yours – Go truly Local’.

Today a registered brand, this unique inclusive, participative social change model has seen residents in flats and staff in businesses divert significant amounts of waste from landfill, both in the UK and in multiple occupancy housing in South African townships.

The model innovates waste into a resource, creating a localised circular economy, improving self-sufficiency in which local residents and tourists visiting locally), collectively support the circular economy whilst contributing to public and environmental health. Scaled up, some principles or mindsets inherent to the model, could contribute to current wider efforts to implement -and drive a sustainable circular economy. Here are some of the many awards Anthea, ARA-UK and Dreamcatcher have received over the past decade:

• The Gatwick Green Diamond Green Champion (UK-2011.



• As project implementer at Housing21- National Housing Federation (South East Region UK,Finalist: 2013, Most impact on the local community, Best partnership working; most outstanding individual and best project.
• One of Most Impactful Social Innovators Globally (India 2018).
• Women in Leadership – Most inspiring and influential leading woman who continues to make an outstanding contribution to change in Africa (AFTL Rwanda 2020).
• Championing Sustainability Award – Destination, business, third sector organization or policy that has made an outstanding contribution to conservation/ environmental protection and community development (AFTL Rwanda 2020)
• Anthea Rossouw and founding organisation Dreamcatcher South Africa – Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award – An entrepreneur (or a small group of entrepreneurs) who has shown excellence in entrepreneurship in Africa’s travel, tourism hospitality and/or aviation industry (AFTL2020).

Accolades and References

1. Mark Allum, Policy and Term Contracts Manager, Housing 21:

We have had the privilege of working with Anthea Rossouw of ARA for well over a year. Her dedication and commitment is of the highest standard. Her drive has made that all importance difference to our tenants lives. She conceptualized and blazed a new trail for recycling and communal composting of food at Walstead Court in Crawley. This model paved the way for subsequent implementation at our other courts, saving much waste from landfill and enthusing the residents to become involved. We have found Anthea to operate with a natural talent for understanding the human element, her ethical approach to day to day business issues is a model for us all. We are fully committed to the current partnership with Anthea from ARA, to empower our staff and tenants with the skills and knowledge to manage and recycle their waste where they live. We will try and ensure that we match Anthea’s drive, enthusiasm and energy for sustainability in and self improvement challenges.

2. Greta Wilson, – Events & Media, South Africa:

The founder, of ARA-UK, Anthea Rossouw, has the organisational and creative skills to innnovate and be a pioneer. To initiate and lead projects in hard-to-reach communities is her special forte as she loves to work with people who soon learn to rever her and follow her example of eternal optimism.. ARA-UK, as is Dreamcatcher, founded by Ms Rossouw, get buy-in; not as intervention, but rather as development with people. Not a ‘quick fix”, but as an initiative that is carefully monitored and mentored well beyond its inception to sustainability.

3. Ian Porter, Haymarket Media, UK:

Many women and children in South Africa have been liberated from poverty to a sustainable living because of Anthea. The impact of waste on health and the environment of the communities where she has worked, has inspired her to address it at the heart of sustainability: with the people themselves both in South Africa and the United Kingdom. She respected and loved in communities, yet she remains grounded and humble. I have experienced this first hand on visits. It’s a rare thing”.

Anthea Roussouw worked with East Sussex County Council in the capacity of consultant on the externally funded ’Composting in the Community Project’ between October 2010 and March 2011. Anthea provided mentoring to two ESCC Compost Doctors relating to the implementation and delivery of a community based project in Hastings and Eastbourne. She shared her skills and knowledge relating to composting projects that she had designed in the past, delivered interactive educational workshops and managed the organisation of this aspect of the project. She also worked to obtain vital Environment Agency exemptions and liaised with project partners to ensure the smooth running of the pilot. Anthea’s excellent partnership working ensured the successful delivery of the project and her advice and support to the compost doctors were invaluable.

4. Jon Winfield, Manager, Sustainability, Virgin Holidays, Crawley:

This is an excellent recycling and composting project which has been developed by Anthea Rossouw. ! We are so elated  to implement it and so further reduce our waste to landfill at Virgin Holidays”.