AYICC KENYA

International Student Conference on Climate Change, Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Livelihood: A South-South-North Dialogue Aug 28 2011  -  Sep 1 2011 , Johannesburg, South Africa The world is currently facing a number of challenges including the adverse effects of climate change, expressed through global warming and changing rainfall patterns, drought, flood conditions, hurricanes, diseases, famine, and the depletion of bio-diversity. The adverse effects of climate change impact on communities regardless of race, gender, and social class across the globe. Besides aspects of food security and health being affected by climate change, human and social conflicts for resources, such as water and arable land, but also regional and continental migration are threats looming in the near future. It is on the basis of this increasing realization that as we realize that climate change is a global problem, it is also accepted that the search for sustainable solutions to mitigate ag...

The youth from 9 countries along UN Avenue It is a cold Friday morning in Nairobi and over 300 youth are gathered along the United Nations Avenue for a procession and a dance for Climate Justice. The wind blows gently in the morning chilliness then stills at some point. Voices of participants can be heard in whispers then they rise, reaching a crescendo as the crowd of youth swells to capacity. They are from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and Ethiopia. On their faces is written hope,faith and  an earnest desire to make a difference, this is it!The Occasion: The Launch of the ‘Have Faith-Act Now’ Campaign on August 12, the International Day of Youth. MP Mutava Musyimi with Winnie, Davida & Sylvia Clad in Tshirts written ‘We have Faith: Act Now for Climate Justice’ the procession sets off at about 10.30a.m snaking towards the UN Complex and US Embassy, bringing traffic to a standstill on the busy route. It’s history in the making. Peter ...

Story by: J.F Regis NISENGWE On this Friday July 22 nd, 2011 at 2h: 45, KIST Environmental Conservation Club (KECC) and African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Rwanda (AYICC Rwanda) held a public lecture and open discussion on climate change. The event, supported by both the Head of Department of Chemistry and the Dean of faculty of science, took place at KIST, Muhabura block, room P016. The presenter was Dr. Landry Ndriko MAYIGANE, AYICC (East Africa Cordinator), who was joined in the effort by other special environment activists Shawel MULATU (AYICC Ethiopia), Jordi MUSONI (JVE Rwanda) and Claude and another guest from international student organization, Beatrice ONYANGO (AISEC). It all kicked off with the presentation on “climate change and youth involvement” made by Dr. Landry Driko MAYIGANE, and after we heard from other special guests of the day starting with Shawel MULATU and then Jordi Michel MUSONI. They all emphasized the importance of youth involvement in fighti...

The Kenyan youth under the umbrella of Kenya Climate Youth Network, KYCN have this time made it perfect! For long, we have been undertaking many activities. But the question, "what have you done?" remained almost constant amongst many people. I think this has been the case partly because for a long time, we have been in advocacy which is equally important as it serves to instigate many others to start and run physical activities. Last year, 2010, we as have now become a routine responsibilty of the network; we organized one of the most successful annual national youth conferences on climate change. Unlike the previous ones, this one culminated to another initiative which referred to as “Back to Eden”. In this initiative, we had planned to plant ten thousand trees in Eastern province in partnership with Muli Children’s Family, MCF. Unfortunately, we managed to plant 4500 trees. On Saturday May 28, 2011, Thanks to St Johns Community, four of us had an opportunity to tra...

Rosemary, in one of AYICC Kenya meetings On the 14th may 2011 AYICC-Kenya members had an opportunity to visit the Youth For Life Kenya, a youth group based in Athi River for environmental awareness day. The theme of the Day was Mobilizing the youth for Environmental Management. There was a good representation of the AYICC Education and Outreach Team led by Njeri Kuria (Environmental Education Specialist), Richard Omondi (AYICC Kenya Ass. Programmes Coordinator), Alpha Gitau (NYCC IV Convenor), Anthony Ogolla (KUNEC Secretary General) and Rosemary Wangechi (AYICC Kenya Communications Officer). Over 25 youth from the group were present to listen to us. The first presentation was on Waste management which Njeri took us through this session. It was very interactive, lively and also many questions were thrown to her. She taught on the principle of management of waste and emphasized on the reduction of waste production and generation into the environment. At the end of this session, th...

Its when we receive these kind of emails from young people across the country that we know that we are actually having an impact on the Kenyan youth. Its always our desire to impact on every Kenyan youth so that they can be the leaders who will support this nation deal with the challenges of climate change and sustainable development. As a voluntary youth movement for the past 5 years, this is how we can count our impact, we have invested in a generation, and will continue to invest in this generation and until we see change in our Climate! Thanks you John Joseph for encouraging us to continue being in this movement!

On the 22 nd April 2011, both groups and individuals came together to mark the EARTH DAY. In Kenya, Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change was not left behind either. As other youth in different parts of the world executed their “billion acts of Green”, they decided to go graffiti way, an effective way to communicate to the elderly, young literates and the illiterates. It started with few set backs but as the day progressed, it gained momentum and they did not disappoint in their climate change advocacy work. Their artists finally came up with a rather less expected picture of Africa rounded with a big tree. From this image, I could see the ugly truth of climate change. But most importantly, this image clearly depicted the hopeful possibility. As I looked the triplets who were in attendance do the paint on the drafted picture, I knew that we were not just communicating to the elderly and the literates but also to the young people, who as a matter of fact, have the most at stake and...

Billion Acts of Green!!! Yes and AYICC Kenya has just been up to that all this year. Tomorrow is just another day, where we shall have another time to add onto our list of Billion Acts of Green as we celebrate the Earth Day. Catch us on Faceboo k for details about the Event. But just to give you a hint about the day: I have just emailed Basco paints requesting for the Eco friendly paints.... please help me to get them to support us tomorrow. We need like 15 spray cans to help us do a graffiti at the YMCA- Our meeting joint in town, next to University of Nairobi, along State House road- probably one day the President will stop to see the graffiti and get to talk to us! :) If we dont get their support, kindly feel free to make a personal contribution. Thanks to all those who have already made the contribution towards the paints!!! Our DJ, Davida, and our Youth Champion from the UN, Kevin,  are organizing for the Book Launch and a Gig at the same venue, same time ( i hope so...

Richard Omondi, in one of the AYICC Kenya meetings The debate on global climate change has changed from better to worse and those championing green economy have received ceremonial embrace for their outstanding scientific contributions. The debate however remains to be as fictional as it was in the early 1990s. Increasingly, it seems like climate change belongs to what philophers call, the limit of science. Inspite of the failure of United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to agree on global climate change on Mitigation and Adaptation frame work at the Copenhagen late last year, many carrier scientists are still hopeful that they will produce a conclusive evidence of global warming which they believe posses worst threat to humanity and other forms of life across the globe. In many African countries, high levels inter-ministerial committees have been formed to develop strategies for combating climate change. Big offices have also been created and None Governmental ...

 These are just some of the highlights from AYICC Kenya as we prepare to wrap up the year. The year started in January with a Social Day at the Ololua Forest and the Election of our Leaders, George Auko (Chief Coordinator), Winnie Asiti (Admin & Finance), & Joshua Minai (Programmes and Projects Coordinator). February 2010- George Auko, the Chief Coordinator AYICC Kenya, and Papa Omugataya, one of the climate change artists in our membership joined the rest of the Kenyans in a national tree planting day in Mau Forest. 22nd April 2010 was the Earth Day, and AYICC Kenya marked this through a half day workshop on Youth and Biodiversity. Panelists during the workshop included Paul Mbole, from the Norwegian Church Aid our supporters for the event, Joan Kagwanja from AGRA (Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa) and Dr. Mwaura from Univerisyt of Nairobi. Further to the Earth Day, we had a major clean up of the Nairobi River with University of Nai...

The 3rd National Youth Conference on Climate Change was a huge success with immense support from the Office of the Prime Minister Kenya, Oxfam GB, the Norwegian Church Aid, the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Kenya, private sector, civil society organizations, The Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources and a large number of youth networks represented from all over the country. The conference attracted a total of 120 participants drawn from most parts of the country who camped from 27th – 30th October at the Multi Media University in Nairobi, Kenya. The participants were representative of the 47 counties of the country, and ensured that there was gender equality. We had the presence of the Mexican Embassy, United Nations Environment Programme and other UN Agencies, International Union for Conservation of Nature , Pan African Climate Justice Alliance , Oxfam GB, Norwegian Church Aid,  Ecological Society of Eastern Africa ...