Empowering Youth to Become Advocates for their Environment

Sam Dindi has been working in the field of environment conservation for eight years now. As the co-founder of Mazingira Yetu, Sam is engaged in: Environment education and communication Community mobilization and training Ecosystem restoration Trained in sustainability development, tourism and wildlife management, Sam was awarded the Head of States Commendation (HSC) by the Government of Kenya for his exemplary service to the Republic of Kenya. He also received the IUCN-CEC award for his efforts in educating the public on environment conservation and sustainability development. Sam enjoys nature walks, bird watching and travelling. Youth Education and Empowerment Environmental education is crucial in inspiring children to understand the importance in conserving and protecting their natural spaces. Unfortunately, many primary and secondary schools fail to incorporate this into their curriculum, which ultimately stunts the environmental movement. Sam emphasizes the importance of not just educating students, but empowering them to take action in their local environment and claim their right to protect and restore the land and waterways as well. Because of the many young adults who have never had the opportunity to plant a tree, or grow their own garden, Sam’s vision is to give these students the tools they need to understand the importance of these tasks. Nairobi River Restoration The Nairobi River is a prime example of a waterway that is heavily polluted. Used for everything from bathing to washing clothes to waste disposal to industrial drainage, the Nairobi River is riddled with garbage and contaminants. Sam inspires a group of around 100 local individuals to take control of cleaning their portion of the river by teaching them the ropes of water restoration. Empowering communities in this way allows for them to rely less on governmental intervention, which often proves to be ineffective, and creates space for a shift in the idea that environmentalism is a white person commodity. Other Topics This week's conversation with Sam Dindi is full of insight and inspiration. From the intricacies of dealing with bureaucracy and corruption, to Sam’s vision of Kenya’s environmental future, to his advice on keeping a level head in the hectic sector that is environmentalism, this is an episode of Breaking Green Ceilings that you won’t want to miss. Follow Sam Dindi: Mazingira Yetu Twitter Facebook Related Resources: CEC celebrates Sam Dindi Environmentalists cleaning up Nairobi′s rivers | Eco Africa Who can salvage the situation in Nairobi