A 40-year-old mother of six from Swakopmund is turning discarded bottles into handmade drinking glasses to provide for her family.

Despite losing her job years ago, she refused to let hardship define her future.

Before many people begin their day, Flowerens Oxurus is already on the streets of Swakopmund collecting discarded bottles and tins.

Oxurus from Mahetago relies on recycling to feed her family.

Using recycled cider bottles, she carefully cuts, smooths and polishes the glass into handmade drinking glasses, which she sells from bar to bar. 

Each glass sells for around N$20, but during slow periods she sometimes lowers the price to as little as N$5 just to make a sale.

She also supplements her income by selling collected tins and bottles to a local scrapyard.

“It looks very easy but its not, it a lot of work, I am so obsess with my glasses and I know that I will eat and drink from this, therefor everyday I don't sleep I go out in the cold and collect this bottles and I come and cut them cause I need to but bread on the table, this is my bread.”

However, a lack of proper equipment is slowing her progress.

“When I started I have been always praying NBC will see my work and one day some will help me with the machinery, sand paper and overalls I also get people that are collecting glasses and sanding them and we are not getting enough money.”

She appealed to businesses, organisations and members of the public to assist with protective gloves, safety glasses and glass-cutting equipment to make her work safe and more efficient.