The Ubunifu eco train movement, a consortium of sixteen organizations has continued their environmental conservation efforts aimed at mobilizing the youth to embrace climate justice.
The organization is using sports as an avenue to encourage the youth to make their own green spaces.
According to the chairperson of Ubunifu eco train movement Mwihaki Njogu, football in particular has proven to be very effective in reaching the young generation that forms an energetic manpower that can be leveraged to rehabilitate and sustain the environment.
‘’ We all have a social responsibility of conserving our environment and teaching the younger generation of doing the same’’
The challenge we face with communities is that everyone is focused on making money. It’s so hard to explain to someone why they need a better environment in the next 10 years. So after planting trees we have to go back to those communities check up on them and encourage them to make their own green spaces’’
‘’ Sports is a very effective way of communication about climate justice. It is mostly young people with the strength. So we use football as an avenue of them not only having fun but learning about climate change’’
During the weekend the train landed in Githurai in Nairobi County, where the youth engaged in a five a side football tournament. The youth got a chance to be enlisted as agents of change, planting trees along the Gatharaine River.The Gatharaine Park is a green space that was inspired by the late transport minister John Michuki.
It is the only public park between Thika and arboretum in Nairobi where the public can enjoy a green space.
“We have been rehabilitating this riparian land since 2010 with the help of NGOs and government agencies whose agenda aligns with the climate action’’-Allan Kariuki, chairperson, Small acts environmental youth group.
Climate works in Kenya
The Movement aims at supplementing government efforts through amplifying their voices, providing new skills and knowledge for green jobs.
Last month President William Ruto announced the return of kazi mtaani which has now been renamed climate works.
” I want to assure you that kazi mtaani will be activated in the next one month so prepare adequately’’
During the last government regime, each youth was earning 700 Kenya shillings.
‘’Climate action has become a cross cutting issue, and recently a lot of funds have been invested in mitigation and adaptation of climate change and as a result we are now, hopeful that it will give us green jobs.’’ -Allan Kariuki, chairperson, Small acts environmental youth group
‘’ Some of our members have already enrolled in climate works, they have already started the works and will start getting paid for what they were doing on voluntarily bases’’
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