‘Together for our Environment’: Madaraka Day in Kenya

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11 July 2022
Kandi

Every year, 1 June is a national holiday for all Kenyans to celebrate Madaraka Day, which commemorates the day in 1963 when Kenya obtained self-rule after having been a British colony since 1920. This year, I dedicated the day to cleaning our local community’s environment in the company of my junior environmental champions. We aimed to emphasize the need for our community to be independent from littering and plastic pollution for a more conducive, safer, and cleaner environment. 

Junior Environmental Champions sensitizing communities on the need for a clean environment

Community building during Madaraka

As a forest restoration steward, mentoring and educating children on restoration and conservation issues is an integral part of my work. I hope to be joined by more stewards who are devoted to protecting the planet. According to UNEP, Kenya has invested heavily in policy and law enforcement in the fight against plastic pollution, but the menace of pollution is still felt within the country, including in our region, Meru. The harmful chemicals produced by plastics have degraded our soils, and the ripple effects include reduced outputs, failed crops, including trees, the death of livestock who feed on them, and pollution of the greater ecosystem. Poverty levels have increased in our community because we greatly rely on agriculture to sustain our livelihoods.

Together, we pulled up our sleeves and put our words into action in the Kiirua community. The dedication, joy and motivation of these kids gave me more reasons to continue stewarding the restoration and conservation of our only home. The green space we are establishing thanks to the funding support received from the GLF will enhance our restoration efforts by allowing for sustainable four-dimensional environmental learning among both our child mentees and the greater community.

I know we have a long way to go, but I believe if we come together in understanding, there is still hope for our planet Earth. 

On the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, we took to the field showcasing how climate change is impacting our communities and livelihoods.

#OnlyOne Earth

Kandi

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Supporting partners 2023

Supporting partners

The Restoration Stewards program provides funding, mentorship and training to deepen the impact of youth-led restoration projects. The year-long program is run by the Youth in Landscapes Initiative (YIL) and the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) under the banner of Generation Restoration to support and highlight the work of eight young restoration practitioners and their teams in 2023.

During the program, the Restoration Stewards and their teams are  supported to further develop their project and serve as ambassadors at both global and local levels. Globally, the Restoration Stewards share their journeys in a series of vlogs and blogs documenting their stories of inspiration and challenges and participate in different international events to showcase their work. Locally, they are sparking a restoration movement, mobilizing local communities and creating pathways to connect, share, learn, and act for livelihoods and landscapes.