RCE North Rift - 2022

The role of University of Eldoret Environmental Students Association in Environmental conservation in the North Rift.
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
The role of University of Eldoret Environmental Students Association in Environmental conservation in the North Rift.
Submitting RCE: 
RCE North Rift
Contributing organization(s) : 
University of Eldoret Environmental Students Association
RCE, North Rift
University of Eldoret
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Georgine Kemboi
Organizational Affiliation: 
University of Eldoret
E-mail: 
georginekemboi@gmail.com
Format of project: 
power point
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Web link: 
https://www.rcenetwork.org/portal/node/add/rce-projects
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
No
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Kenya
Location(s): 
ELDORET
Address of focal point institution for project: 
University of Eldoret Environmental Students Association
P.O BOX 1125 -30100
Eldoret.
Ecosystem(s):
Forest, Fresh water, Wetlands
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Uasin Gishu County is a highland plateau. Altitudes fall gently from 2,700m above sea
level at Timboroa in the East to about 1,500m above sea level at Kipkaren in the West.
The County can be divided into two broad physiographic regions, with Eldoret (2,085m)
forming the boundary between the regions. The topography is higher in the east and
declines towards the western borders. The plateau terrain in the County allows easier
construction of infrastructure such as roads and use of modern machinery for farming.
The County is within the Lake Victoria catchment zone and therefore all the rivers from
the County drain into Lake Victoria. Major rivers in the County include: Moiben, Sergoit,
Kipkarren, Chepkoilel and Sosiani. The rivers provide water for livestock, domestic and
industrial use.
The University of Eldoret is one of the Public Universities in Kenya. It is situated
approximately 9 km along the Eldoret-Ziwa road in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County. It
was founded in 1946 by the white settlers as a Large-Scale Farmers Training Centre. In
1984, it was converted to a Teachers’ Training College and renamed Moi Teachers’
Training College to offer Diploma level Science Teachers Training. Due to the double
intake crisis, the College was taken over by Moi University as a Campus in 1990,
renaming it Chepkoilel Campus. From 1990, the University made it a campus of natural,
basic and applied science programs. In August 2010 the President, through Legal
Notice No. 125 of 13th August, 2010 upgraded the campus to a University College with
the name Chepkoilel University College, a Constituent College of Moi University. Upon
award of Charter by the President on 11th February 2013, the University College was
upgraded to University of Eldoret.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The University of Eldoret Environmental Students Association (UEESA) improves the
Socioeconomic and Environmental conditions of vulnerable communities through
participation in various environmental management projects. The strategy is
implemented through participation in tree planting projects, collection of waste materials
within the university and it’s neighborhoods, capacity building, climate action

awareness campaigns, fruit tree growing and environmental cleanup activities within the
North Rift region.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
October, 2019 to October, 2025
Rationale: 
Education for sustainable development (ESD) promotes the development of the
knowledge, skills, understanding, values and actions required to create a sustainable
world, which ensures environmental protection and conservation, promotes social equity
and encourages economic sustainability. The concept of ESD developed largely from
environmental education, which has sought to develop the knowledge, skills, values,
attitudes and behaviors in people to care for their environment. The aim of ESD is to
enable people to make decisions and carry out actions to improve the quality of life
without compromising the planet.  It is crucial to identify education as a key climate
solution in national climate change policies such as nationally determined contributions
and national adaptation plans. It highlights the various activities geared towards climate
action including capacity building, climate action awareness campaigns, tree and fruit
tree growing, environmental cleanup activities, green clubs in schools’ and
environmental organizations in higher institutions. Through these environmentally
friendly activities the members of the association influence other students to follow suit.
Objectives: 
University of Eldoret Environmental Students Association was created to deal with
human socio-ecological interventions including environmental conservation, control and
management, national cohesion and nation building, conflict and conflict resolution,
community health and sanitation- focus on HIV/ AIDS, youth and gender empowerment,
eradicating illiteracy and encouraging education, disaster preparedness and
management, lifestyle (moral behavior, spiritual development, drug and drug abuse,
modesty, decorum and dressing) in the community in the pursuit of social and
academic welfare, peace, prosperity, integrity and dignity of the nation at large.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
UEESA participates in various environmental management activities and awareness
campaigns. Through the environmental awareness campaigns, UEESA has managed to
enlighten the student fraternity on the importance of environmental management. As a
result, the student fraternity have become more conscious about environmental
conservation and preservation. Through participation in environmental clean ups, tree
and fruit tree planting activities, UEESA manages to contribute to the conservation of
the major water towers, curbing destruction from winds such as soil erosion through
trees acting as windbreakers and combating the increasing rates of climate change.
Size of academic audience: 
1000
Results: 
Through environmental awareness campaigns, there has been enlightenment amongst
the UoE students and the community at large in the north rift region.
The tree planting activities within the university have improved the tree cover within
university of Eldoret.
Through tree planting and other clean up projects, there has been improvement and
enhancement of water catchment areas within UoE and its environs.
The aesthetic value of the university has been improved making a conducive
environment to study in as a result of the frequent environmental clean ups undertaken
by UEESA.
Lessons learned: 
importance of youth driven awareness.
the power of networking.
Key messages: 
environmental Education.
Awareness formally and informally.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Indirect
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Arts 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
Yes
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes