RCE Mau Ecosystem Complex - 2022

Location

Kenya
See map: Google Maps
KE
ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING THE YOUTH AND CHILDREN AS CHAMPIONS FOR CLIMATE ACTION
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING THE YOUTH AND CHILDREN AS CHAMPIONS FOR CLIMATE ACTION
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Mau Ecosystem Complex
Contributing organization(s) : 
Egerton University
Schools within the RCE
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Wilkister Nyaora Moturi
Organizational Affiliation: 
Egerton University
E-mail: 
wnyaora@egerton.ac.ke
Format of project: 
manuscript and audiovisual
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Monday, October 31, 2022
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
education for Sustainable Development
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Kenya
Location(s): 
Nakuru County
Address of focal point institution for project: 
P.O. BOX 536, 20115,EeGERTON, KENYA
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Forest, Fresh water
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Urban, rural and peri-urban communities. For the rural communities, they are engaged in farming, mainlysubsistence farming; relying on rainfed agriculture. In the urban and peri-urban, there are commercial centres as well as a city. Commerce, industry and educational centres thrive here. There is a lake (L. Nakuru, a Ramsar site) which is home to the flamingoes and a national park whereby tourism thrives.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The main issue of environmental concern is the encroachment of the Mau forest, a major water tower for several rivers, including the Mara which is key to the Great Wildebeest migration and the alteration of L. Nakuru water chemistry due to swelling of the lake making it unsuitable for the flamingoes which have fled. The RCE Mau Ecosystem complex under the leadership of Egerton University embarked on activities geared towards Education for Sustainable development. University students who are undertaking programs related to environmental management and sustainability and those passionate about sustainability have embarked on mentorship programs in schools and raising community awareness in order to calculate good environmental stewardship.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Rationale: 
In order to deal with challenges in the Mau Ecosystem, it is imperative that collective action be undertaken. This can only happen if there is awareness regarding what is ongoing and strategies on how to deal with the challenges. University students possess the expertise, innovativeness, energy and zeal and these can be harnessed and utilized. it is upon this premise that the university students have undertaken to mentor primary and high school students, participate in community awareness activities and undertake outreach activities in the RCE. The University facilitates their movement and offers the necessary logistical support. Tree planting activities would be futile if not accompanied by other strategies to help restore the ecosystem. The knowledge gained by the primary and high school students can be practiced in their homes. In addition, they will grow up to be better environmental stewards.
Objectives: 
- empower communities to be better environmental stewards
- inculcate good environmental practices in the growing children and youth
- build a critical mass of environmental stewards for present and future generations
- awaken innovativeness and passion in matters of environmental sustainability
Activities and/or practices employed: 
- provision of tree seedlings to the communities for planting
- build capacity on matters of ESD in schools and communities
-participate in tree planting campaigns
- participate in clean-up campaigns
- undertake an environmental awareness week that culminates in the World Environment Day celebrations
Size of academic audience: 
Many- more than 500
Results: 
- Awareness created
- children and youth empowered to be environmental stewards at home and in school
- the university students have practised what they learn
- more trees being planted to restore the Mau Ecosystem
- better ways of utilizing waste and view it as a resource
Lessons learned: 
- it is important to involve all in sustainability issues
- everyone has something to offer
- there are many resources around that can be harnessed to produce results
- Unity of purpose is power
- The power to achieve sustainability lies with everyone. no one should be left behind.
Key messages: 
it is very easy to destroy our environment and it takes only a very short time to reap the negative results. however, restoration takes a lot of effort and what has been destroyed takes a long time to restore- but it is possible.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
None
Funding: 
in kind from participating institutions as well as the university and the students.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon at Milimani secondary Naivasha.jpg (162.88 KB) At Milimani secondary school, Naivasha
Image icon at ndarugu primary school.jpg (206.94 KB) At Ndarugu primary school
Image icon at St. Lwanga primary.jpg (87.21 KB) At St. Lwanga primary school
Image icon cleanup with community members.jpg (303.4 KB) cleanup with community members
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 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Indirect
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Indirect
SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
Indirect
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Direct
SDG 10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries 
Indirect
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
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
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Indirect
Arts 
Indirect
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Indirect
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
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: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes