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AWF CHARLES R. WALL LEADERSHIP FELLOWSHIP 2023

The first time I saw the call for applications for the program I was intrigued and couldn’t decide on which of the two programs leadership and management or policy and governance would be my perfect fit but after going through the document I finally decided on applying for the conservation leadership fellowship.
After an intense interview after being shortlisted, I got the good news my application had been successful and my journey began.
The objective of the program is to build a generation of young professionals in Africa who have leadership and
management skills to lead and influence systemic change in the environmental sector and are grounded in the African context and realities when it comes to environmental
matters.
Each pillar has its learning objectives and topics that have been identified to help in building the knowledge and skills gaps being addressed by the program.

Delivery Methodology

The structured program combines well-thought-out blended learning methodologies to deliver the programmatic and learning objectives.
Throughout the 9 months, participants will undergo scheduled training on conservation concepts, leadership, and management development.
All virtual sessions last between 1 and 3 hours each and take place between 5 pm-8 pm EAT.
From 11th to 17th June 2023 all the participants converged in Nairobi for the commencement of the deep dive phase for in-person Courses on self-leadership, leading purpose-driven teams and organizational leadership

Tailor-made to equip with knowledge, skills, and tools that will elevate the leadership and management game from 1.0 to 2.0 The sessions will help build an understanding of personal values, strengths, purpose, vision, personality, and how these connect to the professional world so that one can maximize on impact.

 

The in-person training commenced with a one-on-one session with Frederick Kumah Vice President of, the Global Leadership team AWF. The highlight being having an opportunity to sit with him and ask any questions regarding his experience and how we can cross the hurdles as young conservationists in our different backgrounds and become catalysts of change.

The program is designed to impart participants with cutting-edge knowledge, skills, and expertise in conservation, leadership, and management that will equip them to lead systemic change in the environment space. The program content is categorized into four pillars; Foundational course on conservation, Self leadership, Leading purpose-driven teams and Organizational leadership.

The class sessions were structured in a very engaging manner with loads of group work assignments and tasks which require one to “think out of the box” and not be compelled to conventional ways of doing things, focused group discussions embraced pan Africanism learning from each other in contemporary issues regarding conservation in the continent sharing practical examples on lessons learned in the various programs and projects the participants are working on in their home countries

This program is AWF’s acknowledgment of how the spaces of conservation and environmental sustainability are changing rapidly, requiring open-minded and resilient individuals who can lead systemic change. The program intends to foster collaboration across the continent, as the 2023 cohort brings together fellows from 12 African countries from West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. Countries represented in this cohort include Cabo Verde, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa.

Conservaion Leadership training is no complete without mentorship this program is all about that, learning from conservation practitioners to learn about their journey and get to ask questions one would not easily get a platform to ask from this top professionals.
If youre an early or mid career conservationist, I highly recommend you consider applying for the programme which is a well thought initiative with a key focus on self-leadership, team leadership, and organizational leadership, the fellowship brings together young African professionals from business, NGOs, the public sector, and community-based entities that are leading impact in the environment space. Charles R. Wall Conservation Leadership and Management Fellowship will impart you with transformational leadership and management skills needed to lead systemic impact in environmental issues.

Keep following @awf on all socials be updated on realtime opportunities.

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GUIDE TO DEALING WITH THREATS TO NATURE IN KENYA by Dr. Paula Kahumbu

By Paula Kahumbu,

I’m often called, or sent messages to help in situations like the destruction of giant trees, diverting rivers, pouring pollution into rivers, poaching, injuries to wildlife, draining wetlands, dredging reefs, and other forms of harm to nature. Very often local residents can address these situations themselves and they will always have the most powerful voices. As Kenya pursues rapid development, mistakes will be made on all sides. As environmentalists we believe in the precautionary principle – this means demanding caution, pausing and review before leaping into new innovations that may prove disastrous. Often the relevant people are not aware and are happy that issues are raised. Always assume everyone is innocent. Here’s how you can take matters into your own hands to defend and protect your environment, which is not just your right but it’s your duty according to the constitution of Kenya.

STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY

1. Verify claims. Visit the site, get evidence in photos, videos, recordings, news clips, interviews, documentation, gather all the research you can find. Identify your allies and the people who can make a difference.

If the complaint is genuine then continue to step 2.

2. If the situation is critical, and has human safety or health implications, immediately lodge a complaint at the local police. Hire a lawyer or engage one of the professional organizations listed below.,

If the situation is not critical to human life, call and write to lodge a complaint at National Environmental Complaints Committee and NEMA including an URGENT request for EIA to check our public participation has been conducted and if mitigation plans have been implemented. All letters must be hand delivered with proof of delivery. All counties have local NEMA officials. Always copy to HQ.

3. Call and write to heads of relevant authorities to express your concern, request information about the issue, and ask for an urgent meeting. Keep all your communications official and polite. Be specific in crafting your complaint – indicate who, what, and when, make a very clear request with timelines. Maintain a file of all your records.

4. Call, visit and write to the offending party/agency to communicate your objection – copy all relevant agencies.

Attend meetings and ask questions to confirm your information or assumptions are correct and concerns are correct, make suggestions. Follow up with letters of minutes and agreed action points. Eg Agency to put out statement. Public participation to be conducted by x date.

IF NOTHING IS DONE AND THE SITUATION IS URGENT GO PUBLIC

5. Launch social media campaign inviting opinions, info, photos. Give the campaign a catchy name, a look and feel, and hashtags. #HandsOffOurElephants, tag all relevant agencies and media.

6. Issue press statement and make a call to action Eg . Save Kilifi Baobabs

7. Launch an online petition and have a clear call to action for a specific person – Eg To Dr So And So, Cabinet Secretary of XYZ

8. Conduct physical demonstration, march, protest (everything you do must be legal, obtain police permission).

9. Repeat steps 2, 3, 4. Take the issue to parliament by asking your MP to raise it on the floor.

NO MATTER WHAT always stay calm and never endanger yourself or your people by either breaking the law, or being rough, rude or vulgar. Always remain professional, polite and credible. If you are threatened, immediately report it to the local police.

If you find huge information was incorrect or exaggerated, acknowledge, apologize for any mistakes, acknowledge any support, thank anyone who takes relevant actions. Remember every issue is a learning. Document and track all your complaints.

Remember, if you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, involve others. I always invite other organizations to assist, to share the load sbd to brainstorm.

Here are a few organizations that I really like

Natural Justice on matters involving land degradation

Daima Green Spaces on matters involving urban green spaces

WildlifeDirect or African Fund For Animal Welfare on matters involving wildlife crime.

The Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action on matters involving pollution

Amnesty International Kenya for matters that affect human rights.

 

About the author 

Paula Kahumbu is a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect. She is best known as a campaigner for elephants and wildlife, spearheading the Hands Off Our Elephants Campaign, which was launched in 2014 with Kenyan First Lady Margaret Kenyatta. She has recently in 2022 been appointed as the first National Geographical Explorer as a board of Trustees member at the National Geographic Society.

Awards and honors (source wikipedia)
  • Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year June 2021
  • National Geographic Buffet Award Winner for conservation leadership in Africa, 2011
  • National Geographic Emerging Explorer Award, 2011
  • Special Commendation, United Nations Person of the Year Award, 2013
  • Order of the Grand Warrior Award, Kenyan Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, 2014
  • Whitley Award Winner, donated by The LJC Fund in memory of Anthea and Lindsey Turner, 2014
  • Round Square Idealist
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Ecosystem Restoration ambassador Sam Dindi

Sam Dindi is a firstborn son in a family of four, studied Tourism and wildlife management a the University of Eldoret previously known as Chepkoilel. While in campus Sam started a blog site www.mazingarayetu.blogspot.com where he would share with his audience what he had learned or contemporary issues in conservation.

After completing his studies, Sam started visiting primary schools to promote environmental education among students and equally create a source of livelihood for himself, this lead to the formation of Mazingira Yetu a community training and mobilization organization currently he is the director and has been running it for the past 11 years.

Sam during the presentation of the Toilet of the year award to Kibera residents at Kamukunji Grounds

Mazingira Yetu Organisation runs the following programs:
a) Environment Education and Communication Program
b) Ecosystem Restoration Program
c) Taka ni Pato Program
d) Community Mobilisation and Training Program

Sam taking through Strathmore University PhD students on Taka ni Pato Social enterprise in Kibera

The environment education and communication program runs the following projects:

a) Mazingira Yetu Magazine

b) Music in conservation

c) Environment education in schools

Marketing of Taka ni Pato Social enterprise services in Karanja (Kibera) through dance

Ecosystem Restoration Program runs:

a) Ondiri wetland restoration (Kikuyu)
b) Ngong River Restoration (Kibera) Taka ni Pato Program
a) Solid waste collection from households b) Up-cyling of plastic waste
c) Making of briquettes

 

Sam presenting the 21 edition of the Mazingira Yetu magazine to Eng Samuel Alima, Water Secretary-Ministry of water, sanitation and irrigation

While the Community Mobilisation and Training Program entails; Tailor making trainings like on Water and Sanitation, Financial Management, Sacco and Table Banking, Urban River Restoration, upcycling of organic and plastic waste, tree seed collection and preservation.

Training of Komb Green solutions on Riparian ecosystem restoration in Korogocho (Ruaraka sub county) Nairobi

Sam is motivated by a quote by OG Mandino “I will persist until I succeed. Always will I take another step. If that is of no avail I will take another, and yet another. In truth, one step at a time is no too difficult, I know that small attempts, repeated, will complete any undertaking.”

Below are some of the awards mazingira yetu has been awarded

a) IUCN CEC EXCELLENCY AWARD 2019 (EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA)
b) HEAD OF STATES COMMENDATION (HSC) 2019
c) INFORMAL TOILET OF THE YEAR AWARD 2022 (WOMEN IN WATER AND SANITATION
d) EUROFISHION SONG OF THE YEAR 2021 (WORLD FISH MIGRATION)
e) RHINO CONSERVATION AWARD 2012 (GAME RANGERS ASSOCIATION IN AFRICA)

Humble Sam having a talk with the former president in 2019

Sam envisions Mazingira Yetu Organisation  becoming self-sustaining, expanding operations, become a fully-fledged Non-Govermental Organization, and starting a Mazingira Yetu Fellowship program. Mazingira Yetu Organisation looks forward to partnering with like-minded organizations and well-wishers in the various programs that we are running.

Sam loves mentoring youth youths to pursue what they are good at, endeavor to learn new skills, to be careful not to be exploited.

 

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“Giving back in small little ways.” Story of Jennifer Wangui Njeri

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great Love.” one of the quotes from Mother Teresa which best reflects the humaniterian lifestyle of Jennifer Wangui a typical youth with a strong dedicated zeal to make the world a better place, she is a nature enthusiast, humanitarian, climate change activist and an environmental warrior. This is her conservation journey in championing the United Nations sustainable goals that is The 17 SDG’s.

Wangui was brought up in the ‘hilly’ Muranga county by her maternal grandparents (Kimani and Wangui) in a very small village called Gatha-ini. She attended several primary schools and her grandpa ensured she joined any club in any of the schools she was enrolled from scouts’ club, environment, sports club etc. In 2010 she enrolled Kirwara academy and she believes that’s where her love for environment was triggered. The school was few kilometres from  home and due to the terrain, she had to walk to school since the school bus wouldn’t access the village. Passing through the forest, crossing the ever full, silent Kiama river, climbing the two hills, listening to the chirping birds as she went to school were some of the few things that made her love nature. At that time she never knew how unique her environment was, she just enjoyed it. Joined Ruchu Girls, still in Muranga, where she continued participating in the school clubs.

Tree planting during World Environment Day 2021

December 2017 she fully relocated to Nairobi, joining her mom and my siblings, though I used to stay with them during some school holidays . Transitioning from the green Muranga to now adapting the city with minimal trees made me want to know more about environment and conservation. “Having 17 years of my life being woken up by birds singing, monkeys jumping from one tree to another to now waking up to hoots from matatus was confusing.” Wangui recalls as she remembers asking her grandma “why Nairobi is the city yet our home (Muranga) is more greener and beautiful?” and she just responded, “that’s what Wangari Maathai was fighting for.” and that was her conservation call, she vowed to follow Wangari Maathai’s footsteps in her little ways and started joining environmental organisations; Spice Warriors Kenya, and later co-founded  one , Conservation Warriors Kenya.

Wangui taking part in Reviving Kahumbu forest – kigumo constituency

During such initiatives like tree planting and clean ups, she came across needy families, orphans, street families and felt the need to volunteer and engage in  humanitarian activism.  She joined charity organisations like The Soina Foundation where she is  the project manager, Wakenya Watenda Wema, Smile Warriors Foundation, Boychild love where she champions SDG 2 (Zero hunger) SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing) SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Wangui donating sanitary towels at kibera

 

I would like to call every citizen to engage in conservation activities as climate crisis is real and everyone can feel the heavy impact eg drought cases being reported daily, global warming etc. That effort you call little will help combat the crises if we all do it together.

Meal time at Total rehab centre Kasarani

Her message to the world is that you can join any environmental club, movement, forum or start up one with your friends, if you are a student join or start one in your learning institution. “Engaging in these activities does not require any qualification at all only the willingness to make sacrifices . Actually most of the environmentalists I have came along, don’t even have any environmental degree or educational background , they have studied courses that are way far from environment issues. You do not have to be a career conservationist, conservation is for us all in our little ways.”

She believes that “There is no us without the environment, our future, our tomorrow depends on the environment of today and if we don’t protect it today then there is no tomorrow for us. Let us  strive to make the environment our warfare and our responsibility”

Kibera Clean up initiative

I hope her story inspires you that you dont need much to be engaged in conservation or humanitarian initiatives if we all engage in such noble causes the we shall ripple our reach and have a significant impact in our communities. “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa.

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