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working with youth and community April 2013 Issue No: 001
KenyaCAT A Newsletter of the Kenya Climate Action Teams
>> Young People Inspiring Action for Change
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE
The Climate Action Teams (CATs) Project, implemented
by the Climate Action Programme for Schools and Youth
(CAPSAY) aims to empower youth to help Kenya improve
environmental sustainability and reduce poverty. CATs fo-
cuses on two most critical challenges: youth unemploy-
ment and helping communities to tackle climate change.
KenyaCAT Products
Naivasha
CAT Green
Platinum‟s
Eric at work
creating the
„Eco-Broom‟.
Advocacy
Advocacy
Embu CAT member Mercy Nyambura advocates
for change at a CAPSAY schools meeting in
Embu. Mercy, a talented actor and artist embodies
the attributes of a committed and active youth,
who participates fully in community activities.
Sponsored by:
Participation
At KenyaCAT we inspire learning for
change. By so doing young people are
empowered to develop solutions to local
concerns, thus inspiring community ac-
tions for the improvement of livelihoods
and reduction of poverty.
Through this newsletter, we aim to keep
all stakeholders in our network fully in-
formed of the latest happenings in the
CATs project. I hope you will find this
both useful and inspiring. and that you
will be searching for the next edition
before it arrives!
Happy reading!
Habil Olembo, CATs Project Leader, CAPSAY
An introductory
message from the
CAPSAY
Programme Manager
Greig Whitehead
Welcome to the KenyaCAT by Habil Olembo On behalf of the entire network of
Climate Action Teams in Kenya, we
wish to welcome you to this first edi-
tion of KenyaCAT newsletter. The
purpose is to provide a channel for
sharing information, experiences,
stories of change and activities,
about our work with youth and
community, across the country.
In this inaugural issue of KenyaCAT you
will find a range of different profiles of the
first eight Climate Action Teams — we
call them CATs! Eight new CATs are com-
ing on board soon. It is my hope that you
will be pleased to learn about the simple
yet great work CAT youth are doing to
become „Changemakers‟ in their commu-
nities, all over Kenya.
Why CATs? The CATs project aims to lead positive
youth action in Kenya and by example, to inspire a wider range of stake-
holders to do the same. CATs strive to help turn the negative image of
youth, fuelled by poverty and desperate need, into a positive picture of
young people committed to sustainable development. CAT members
are at the cutting edge of helping to build community resilience, while at
the same time providing effective stewardship for the environment.
The CATs project began in August 2011 and now is growing to include CAT
(youth) groups in sixteen different community settings across Kenya. Each group is
fully registered and has a bank account. Groups also boast an office base with furni-
ture, IT equipment and land space to run horticultural projects and display their
work. Their projects reflect the different needs of their communities, but all are
„green‟ (ie: friendly to the environment) and all set out to demonstrate ways of
creating practical actions that lead to community benefits.
This newsletter aims to provide a flavour of just how CAT groups operate and the
types of projects they develop. It also seeks responses from all sectors of the community, to help move the CATs forward on an ever-changing pathway, that
inspires us all to build a more viable and more sustainable Kenya.
BECAUSE … CATs CAN DO IT BETTER!
Tackling Climate Change Starts Here!
Inside this
Programme Mgr‘s Message CATs Project Leader
2
CATs Project Introduction 3
Nairobi CAT Naivasha CAT
4 5
Embu CAT Mombasa CAT
6 7
Actions & Thoughts 8/9
Thika CAT Kericho CAT Yatta CAT Nakuru CAT
10 11 12 13
New CATS / websites, etc. Future Plans / Dates Our Partners
14 15 16
CAPSAY
Contacts Head Office: 80 Muthithi Road
Westlands, Nairobi
PO Box 11349 Nairobi 00100
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.capsay.org
Programme Mgr: Greig Whitehead
CATs Project Leader: Habil Olembo
Nakuru Project Officer: Kevin Ochieng
Embu Project Officer: Mollo Alphonce
2
To increase capacity of
Kenyan youth to tackle
impacts of climate
change, through outreach
and entrepreneurship, inspir-
ing community action and
influencing LGA responses
and uptake of the ‘National
Climate Change Action Plan.
Sustainable „green‟
business, profit-generating,
micro enterprises.
Community outreach to
groups and individuals to
create awareness and
promote action.
Influence on local deci-
sion making and impact
on policy formation.
Youth mobilised to build knowledge and skills, become valued stakeholders on sustainable development (SD). Youth-build „green‟ businesses as catalysts for community action to improve livelihoods, enhance SD and reduce poverty. Youth advocate to prioritise this focus within local communities -CBOs and individuals.
AIM
PRIORITY AREAS EXPECTED OUTCOMES
“My Little thing is
planting trees:”
Wangari Maathai
COMMUNITY CONNECT
Through community outreach, we aim to create awareness and long-lasting ac-
tion that we hope will set our society on a sustainable path of development.
ADVOCATE POLICY
We aim to influence local decision-making and impact on policy processes-
through policy briefs, organizing advocacy events & participating in all relevant
governance processes.
Who said business can’t be green! Is it impossible to make profits while doing
good in the society? We believe that it is possible.
GREEN ENTERPRISE
Climate Action Teams (CATs) is a project within the Climate Action Programme for Schools and Youth (CAPSAY) that works with youth to stimulate greater awareness and more action on climate change, for communities in Kenya. The Cli-mate Action Teams are youth groups that put the theory in to practice at the local level. They have three main priorities:
GREEN BUSINESS COMMUNITY OUTREACH
IMPACTING ON COUNTY POLICY
CATs act to Make Money … NOT
Take Money … as a way to helping
themselves and their communities.
3
Art-with-Heart is a creative ini-
tiative by GREENGEN to create
artistic solutions to Climate
Change through promoting ma-
terial re-use and reduction.
Art-with-Heart proves that dis-
carded everyday objects can be
re-invented into something ele-
gant and beautiful, reducing our
footprint on the earth and ena-
bling climate change adaptation.
CATs and fashion? When I finished
my high school education back in
2009 I got an opportunity to be in-
terviewed by a journalist from Brit-
ain who wanted to know what I
planned to do after school.
Being from an
ICC school, he
also asked how
I would con-
tinue with what
I had being
doing on cli-
mate change. It
is almost four
years since
then, and if am
asked the same
question my
answer remains
the same …. “I will use what I love to make my
voice heard.” I love fashion and if am
called to address issues that affect us as a
developing nation, I can easily use this to
reach out to people, without struggling.
We all don‟t have to do the many courses
offered on issues of environment to make
a difference because we are all different
and unique; we just have to learn how to
use what we have. We even make a bigger
impact than if we tried doing the same by
changing ourselves to what we are not.
True beauty lies in who we are and tap-
ping on to that to bring about real change.
I have grown with CAPSAY and that has
capacity-built me and given me informa-
tion which puts me in a better position to
reach out to others and address issues of
health, water, food ,energy and waste.
CATs and fashion!
Valerie Achieng, Greengen & Egerton Uni.
GREENGEN‘S CHRISTINE KARIMI
performing a poem at the National Cli-
mate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) launch
by the Ministry of Environment, at the
Intercontinental Hotel. The NCCAP is
specifically important for the CATs pro-
ject because it is the national actualization
plan for the National Climate Change Re-
sponse Strategy (NCCRS) , which the pro-
ject is anchored on. Christine from Nai-
robi CAT loves music, dancing and poetry
and uses her talent to reach out to people
and make them more aware of matters
pertaining to the environment.
Green Gen Contacts: ART-WITH-HEART
FASHIONABLE
GREEN … by Val
GreenGen The Climate Action Team in Nairobi
PARADOX OF OUR
TIMES Is that we have taller buildings
but shorter tempers,
Wider freeways but narrower view points,
We spend more but we have less,
We have bigger houses
but smaller families,
More conveniences but less time,
More degrees but less sense,
More knowledge but less judgment,
More experts, but more problems,
More medicines, but less wellness,
We have multiplied our possessions,
but reduced our values,
We talk too much, love too seldom
and hate too often,
We have learnt how to make a living
but not a life,
We have added years to life
but not life to years,
We’ve been all the way
to the moon and back,
But have trouble crossing the street
to meet the new neighbor,
We have conquered outer space
but not inner space,
We’ve cleaned up the air
but polluted our souls,
We’ve higher incomes, but lower morals,
More kinds of food, but less nutrition,
A time when technology can bring
this letter to you,
And a time when you can choose,
Either to make a difference...or just hit,
delete
“Xtyn, Greengen”
80 muthithi road, Westlands.
P O BOX 11349 nairobi
PHONE - 0713054951
4
Green Platinum Contacts:
Sustainable sources of wood fuel have
diminished. Many poor families‟ house-
hold budgets suffer from domestic en-
ergy expenses. Deforestation has be-
come a worldwide epidemic due to pov-
erty, poor forest management policies,
pressures of population growth, greed,
and so on.
Therefore, success in fuel briquetting
depends on understanding its benefits
for the community & the environment.
Green Platinum The Climate Action Team in Naivasha
THE BRIQUETTE
PROJECT
SOLUTION IN
THE FLAMES!
The
eco-broom A design collaboration that both avoids and eliminates waste, the Eco-Broom combines intelligent materiality with beautiful form. Eco-brooms are basically made from waste plastic bottles as a solu-tion to waste management and as an adaptation method to help tackle climate change.
THE PLASTIC
CHALLENGE: • Plastic bottles are a petroleum product and use 151 billion
litres of oil to produce each year.
• It takes 3-5 litres of water to make 1 plastic bottle. • Approximately 1500 bottles end up in land fills and the
ocean … every second. • 2,500,000 tons of carbon dioxide is produced in the manu-
facturing of the plastic bottles each year.
DID YOU
KNOW?
In th
e in
du
strial a
ge, m
ost p
rod
ucts liv
e o
nly
in th
e p
rese
nt. T
hey h
ave n
o p
ast
an
d n
o fu
ture
. Facto
ries p
lun
der ra
w m
ate
rials fro
m th
e e
arth
to m
ake p
rod
-
ucts th
at so
on
en
d u
p o
n th
e tra
sh h
eap
. Th
is pro
cess is still h
ap
pen
ing e
very
day, a
ll over th
e w
orld
. Ou
r wo
rk is try
ing to
help
ch
an
ge th
at a
pp
roach
.
80% of the
world‘s
forests are
already
gone ….
IMAGINE THAT! To help address this issue Green Platinum plants a tree in
your name for every 100/- you
spend on any of our products.
We aim to create employment opportunities
while going green. So we created Green Enter-
prise. We currently have 4 Programmes cover-
ing our 4 themes of Energy, Agri-Business, Art
& Design and Waste, respectively:
-Green Energy -Green Acres
-Eco-Fab -Zero-Waste
GREEN ENTERPRISE
Lets STOP and THINK!
P.O. Box 428-20117, Naivasha
PHONE - 0713054945
Thika Cat member making briquettes
5
Genuine Service to humanity is
our driving force. We engage in
activities that impact positively
on community.
We have so far engaged In:
Tree planting (1000 seedlings)
in Runyenjes, Moi high School
Mbiruri and Embu town, Kiri-
mari high school in partnership
with KIM.
Monthly visit to Children's
Homes within our community.
Two clean up activities in Embu
town and its estates.
EMCAT Contacts:
„The creation of
beauty is art‟
CREATING
BEAUTY
Bead work is an art that entails skills
used to make ornaments for beautification
purposes. This art involves
colour combination, creativity and pattern
making. We make ornaments from waste paper and wood,
hence promoting recycling.
Such ornaments are: earrings, bangles,
bracelets and necklaces.
They go at a price mar-gin of between Ksh.50 and Ksh.350 depending on the item and the
touch given it.
Embu Climate Action The Climate Action Team in Embu
The Green
House Project At EMCAT we believe in green business. Agribusiness is our major endeavor where we do green house farming. As a climate change
adaptation technique, we employ organic farm-ing. We do tomatoes, yellow capsicum and
onions, amongst others.
Community Service:
SUPA SOAP SUPA SOAP is made out of organic ingredients that have no negative envi-ronmental impact. The detergent pro-duces good results in laundry, dishes and floor washing. We carry it out as a green business enterprise and sell to institutions and individual community members. As the group’s community responsibility, we train women and youth groups on the same and include them in our ‘ACT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE’ campaign.
Sparko building, 1st floor, Embu (above Family Bank)
PHONE - 0713055220
6
Our Leadership: The Executive Committee of UYDP is
made up of the following:
Chairman: Nelson Ochieng Opany
Projects Officer: Phoebe Wanjiku
Administration Officer: Nancy Akinyi
Financial Officer: Sammy Maraga
Communication Officer: Jared Ogeto
Our Affiliations: UYDP is proud to be affiliated to the
following networks/organizations: Climate Action Programme for
Schools and Youth
Kenya Youth Climate Network
Messengers of Peace Kenya
About Us: Uwezo Youth Development Programme
(UYDP) is the CAT in Mombasa. UYDP was
founded in October 2011 as a youth group
by a group of Scouts and Girl Guides from
Kenya Ports Authority. In March 2013 we
became a community based organization and
we currently have 30 members.
UYDP is founded on the values of
commitment, relevance, hope and service.
We seek to empower young people on envi-
ronment and climate change issues, peace
building and poverty reduction through ca-
pacity building, and partnerships.
What We Do: UYDP looks to equip out-of-school youth
with the capacity not only to understand, but
also to take action on issues of concern. We
seek to to address the challenges young
people and their communities face.
UYDP envisions a pool of empowered and
resourceful youth as lead agents for environ-
mental protection and sustainable develop-
ment, so that we improve our lives and cre-
ate a better and more peaceful world for all.
Uwezo Youth Development Programme The Climate Action Team in Mombasa
Our Approach
The fact that many young people
lack meaningful and constructive
work to do hurts the economy be-
cause a large potential workforce is
not being fully utilized. Instead,
youth resort to negative ways of
earning a living. UYDP solutions
are not get-rich-quick schemes, but
they are viable and sustainable. Through our various interventions we hope
to increase the youth impact on develop-
ment at the local community level, through a
more informed society and greater aware-
ness creation, solution development and
policy formation. Empowering youth to
transform communities is our major focus.
Our Current Projects:
Climate Action Teams A youth-led action project focusing on cli-
mate awareness creation, development of
sustainable green business enterprises and
impact on local policy formation.
Vijana Networks Initiative This is a networking project that aims to
consolidate the work of young people in
Mombasa and increase youth participation in
local and national development processes.
Eco Shift Our corporate arm, fully owned by UYDP
members through shareholding. Eco Shift enables members to make investments to-
wards a secure financial future.
UYDP Contacts:
Uwezo Youth Development Programme
Jeneby Building, 1st Floor, Room 4
Next to Unik Driving College, Moi Ave.
P. O. Box 93485 - 80102 Mombasa, Kenya
PHONE– 0713054984
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.uydpkenya.blogspot.com
UYDP members at the CATs training in Naivasha
UYDP DOES IT BETTER!
Some Activities in Photos
Empowered Youth …
Transforming Communities
Briquette-making us-
ing recyxled materials
Tree-planting in the
local community
7
Collective ACTIONS!
Individual THOUGHTS
“Being in Greengen, I feel knowledgeable and informed
and better able to handle issues such as organic farming ,
entrepreneurship, financial management and being a
team player. Being a leader in the CATS project and com-
bining it with my busy school schedule has enabled me to
embrace a sense of responsibility and organization, so I
can balance both. I am looking forward to establishing
income generating activities that make Greengen sustain-
able. This is my dream and my goal. “
Wangechi Kuria, Greengen, Nairobi CAT
“The knowledge, skills and exposure I have had
through CAPSAY is beyond measure. I have moved
from just a youth to a proactive action taker, and CAP-
SAY has enabled me to grow immensely, in terms of
climate change awareness, and as a team leader. My
work with CAPSAY has strengthened my passion for
the environment and have been able to contribute by
motivating other young people to actively take part in
finding solutions to environmental challenges — lo-
cally, nationally and even internationally.”
Nelson Ochieng Opany, UYDP Mombasa CAT I decided to join Green Plantium Youth (a Climate Action
Team) and be part of the ‘Changemaker’ movement. I wanted
to know …How should I take care of our mother nature as
young person? … How can I inspire other youth on issues
concerning our environment? I had these questions in my
head before I joined Green Plantium, but since I become a
member I have found answers to them.
It’s my believe that Green Plantium will inspire more youth
through Green Business, and also enlighten the community
on environmental issues. It will also be able to create job
opportunities within and outside Naivasha. Green Plantium
has also inspired me as a lady, as it has always promoted
women’s empowerment.
I believe that my land is my life for I depend on it. My land is
where I live, have businesses, implement ideas, plant crops.
Ruth Chege, Green Platinum, Naivasha CAT
“We enrolled on trainings that were
educative and beneficial to us.
Through these trainings we were able
to start some environment friendly
projects. Poultry keeping and tree
nurseries. This has helped the youths
to utilize their time properly, curbing
idleness. The most important goal that
I have attained is self reliance.
Through the exchange programs I was
able to boost my confidence. Through
the links created by the CATs and
CAAPs I was able to get a job. I have
utilized the skills gained through com-
munity development. I’m glad when I
share what I have with the youth and
community in general. Long live CAP-
SAY!”
Carol Ngila, Yatta CAT
“I joined the group late last year (2012)
and the benefits I have received from
this group is that I have learned a lot
during the past meetings. I have also
learned more on how to keep the envi-
ronment. Since I joined, my contribution
to the group is more. I have been assist-
ing in the office and also as the group‟s
secretary. My vision for the group is to
see it prospering all over Kericho
County, and to make sure it is well
known by all, from the young right
through to the older ones in our commu-
nity.” Caroline, Kericho CAT
DEMONSTRATING
DISPLAYING
8
Collective ACTIONS!
Individual THOUGHTS
“CAPSAY is more than a program because in a way it goes beyond
its cause. Through its support I have learnt and grown as an indi-
vidual who wants to see a better world by being part of the proc-
ess. Being part of the program has felt like a privilege; the sup-
port goes beyond the different trainings we have and comes down
to moral support which says that „youths can be part of the solu-
tion!‟. In CATs, I always have a platform where I know my voice
will be listened to and put into action.. This has opened doors for
me to be involved more, and to face the challenges that youth in
Kenya have to go through and create continuity of more young
people as part of the development processes.
Forever greatful CAPSAY!!”
Phoebe Wanjiku Maina, UYDP, Mombasa CAT
Experience is the best teacher, or so I would agree, because since I joined Green Platinum my thinking has changed and I am made to see the reality of life. Innovations that I have never thought would be a reality have been made by our Naivasha CAT. I have also met many people who have the initiative to recuperate and bring back the environment to its pristine character as it was at the times of our grandparents. I have come to understand more about nature and climate change. Through Green Platinum I have been able to acquire more knowledge on environmental issues and be in a position to enlighten other people about the environment and how they can take care it.
Robert Kioko, Green Platinum, Naivasha CAT
I have benefited from Green Platinum by having courage to
speak to audiences and to be self-reliant by gaining knowl-
edge on different courses. I have been living green be-
cause of living with green people. I have got knowledge
from many organizations, like Lake Naivasha Basin Sustain-
ability Initiative/Riparian Association and many others.
Green Platinum has triggered community development in
Naivasha’s Kayole area by employing its locals. Our group is
situated in Naivasha, in Lakeview Location. We are manag-
ing waste and sensitizing the community on climate
change. Lakeview community is aware of climate change
and they are positively supporting us to carry on. I believe
life is in Green Platinum and I believe that I can be one of
the great people, in Naivasha through being in this amazing
group.
Steven Njoroge, Green Platinum, Naivasha CAT
“Your idea counts, our ideas count”. This has been the ideology behind
our positive dynamism in operation. It has molded EMCAT into an
ideas hub and seen the implementation of sustainable green businesses
such as mat-knitting, detergent making, ornament making, rabbit rear-
ing and green house farming, which members are part of, and appreci-
ate. This has seen the group overcome in-house differences and mini-
mize wrangles. We believe in giving back to the community. We as a
team have our monthly children‟s home visit where we mobilize for
donations, present them to the children, have fun together through
games and share life experiences too. This was our initial team‟s activ-
ity and is now our culture and this fulfills us.”
Julius Karanja, EMCAT, Embu Climate Action Team,
WE
CAN
ALL
PLAY
OUR
PART
PRESENTING
PLANNING
9
WHAT DOES
LOOK LIKE?
One way of solving the challenges of
team dynamics is by having a TEAM
CHARTER. The charter sets out the
norms of being in the group, the rela-
tions between the group members and
their roles and responsibilities.
The charter also details any punitive
measures that may be taken against
members who break the provisions of
the charter, but also provide rewards
for those who keep the charter.
In Thika, we are developed a TEAM
CHARTER and have seen a lot of bene-
fits from having one.
Thika CAT The Climate Action Team in Thika
TeamCharter
Urban farming is a response to a variety
of pressures. Large parts of the develop-
ing world are facing shortages of water
and arable land.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization says
Governments and other sponsors have supported
urban food-growing projects in Cuba, Colombia, Botswana and Egypt. In the developed
world, small-scale urban farms are seen as an antidote to agribusiness excesses, includ-
ing high costs, (monetary and environmental) of transporting food long distances to
urban markets.
The benefits of urban farming are many, including: improved food security, nutrition
and health, reduced farm-to-market distance, creation of local jobs and protection
from food price hikes. But there are disadvantages also, if the practice is not well man-
aged. The risks in urban farming, especially if it is focused on livestock, are also large
as poor housing conditions can be causes of pollution and disease.
Urban
Farming
We are all trying
to make a change.
But what change
do we want?
The first step to
creating change
is to clarify
what change
we want.
Photos of our poultry house and chickens in Thika town
Thika CAT Contacts:
Kibsey building, Thika
(opposite Nakumatt)
PHONE - 0713054989
CHANGE TeamBuilding
I have learnt that development of
leadership contributes greatly to the
positive development of young people
and the community through leadership
skills such as goal setting, problem
solving and sound decision making.
These skills help me a lot currently as a leader . I
have greater understanding of the problems
facing youths and fresh perspectives on how to
address these problems, by using skills that have
been inculcated in me through my involvement
with CAPSAY. My skills in communication through
public speaking and writing and engaging in the
participation of others have improved over time.
Charles Mucheru, Chairperson, Thika CAT
10
The story of TEA Have you ever tasted KETEPA‘s tea? Ever tried to get
the story behind the product? This is what they say on
their packaging:
“Kenya is one of the world‟s largest producers of black tea. Tea is grown at high altitude astride the equator in the
rich highlands of Kenya. Rich volcanic soils, selection of
the best tea gardens, careful handpicking and efficient
factory processing all combine to give you premium qual-
ity tea with that refreshing aroma and great taste. No
pesticides are applied on Kenyan tea due to favourable
climatic conditions ensuring a healthy beverage. Over
450,000 tea farmers derive their livelihood from tea grow-
ing in Kenya. We export over 300,000 metric tonnes of
black tea each year to various destinations world wide.”
Good enough. But did you know that scientists are sounding an
alarm over changing climatic conditions that will adversely im-
pact on Kenya‟s tea sector, putting at risk the 450,000 tea
farmer‟s livelihoods, and definitely destroying Kenya‟s earnings
from exports?
Green Action Club (GAC) The Climate Action Team in Kericho
Kericho GAC Contacts:
Empowered Youth
… Transforming
Communities Green Acre Farm Project is a multi-
stakeholders farm project committed
to providing food to people of all in-
come levels, by sustainably growing
affordable, local foods.
We engage our community by educating
our youth and neighbors on growing food
and promoting healthy, active lifestyles,
beautifying our neighborhoods with edible
landscapes and indigenous trees, and lessen-
ing distance from farm to plate. Our mis-
sion is to tackle the three challenges of cli-
mate change, food insecurity and youth un-
employment.
GREEN ACRE FARM PROJECT what
A
―Its an eye-sore …
… I mean, waste! I think any society that is in its
right mind should first keep its
environment clean. A littered envi-
ronment is the first sign of a rot-
ten society …
… that‟s according to me! That inspired me to introduce the
Kericho CAT‟s quarterly
KEEP KERICHO CLEAN!
_____________LIFE LESSONS____________ Philosophers say that excellence is something we repeatedly do, not
something that just happens to us.
Creating good habits requires being able to do the same thing over and
over again, until you get it perfectly right.
When caught in the most difficult process of change and battling with
resistance, always visualise what your finished result will look like and
share this with your team.
Its become a mantra for the CAT groups:
… Empowered Youth Transforming Communities’
We have an overwhelming re-sponse of ‘THANK YOU’ from people in our area for planting many trees. So far, we have planted and nurtured 1,500 young tress and we aim to plant 3,000 more by the end of the year. For us, we believe that youth can be the best ingredient to spur the community to pro-gress and reach greater heights.
WASTE
P.O. Box 453, KERICHO
PHONE — 0711663065
Kericho CAT Tree Nursery
GAC
campaign - a core activity on the
GAC calendar. We have so far held
the event twice in Kericho. And
that‟s just the beginning. With the
new county of Kericho in place, we
aim to ensure the new county keeps
K e r i c h o e ve n G RE E N ER ‖
Carol, GAC
11
YCAT Contacts:
At YCAT, we have embarked on several micro-projects. One is the fruit trees nursery project in which different species are grown: such as guava, mango, passion and pawpaw. Members all plan to have a fruit tree nursery in their homes and to sell to the community, while raising awareness on the value of fruit trees. The purpose of developing fruit nurseries is to boost food security and nutrition,
since Yatta is a semi -arid area.
Another project we are undertaking
is the marketing of solar products to
help reduce the use of kerosene and
its adverse effects on climate and
human health. The group is also in
the process of acquiring a simple
drip irrigation kit to support their
vegetable garden and increase food
security. Our latest project was an
innovative poultry project where
group members and any one inter-
ested can buy shares. Each share is
one chicken.
Yatta CAT The Climate Action Team in Yatta
“WHETHER YOU FAIL OR SUC-
CEED DEPENDS ON :
WHAT YOU DO
TO YOURSELF MORE THAN WHAT THE
WORLD DOES TO YOU‖
(JIM COLLINS).
WHAT‘S HAPPENING AT
YCAT
We believe a group that is built to
last goes through four phases: This is
the: Forming, Storming, Norming, Per-
forming, model of group develop-
ment (Originated by Bruce Tuckman).
In the first stages of team building, the
‗forming‘ of the team takes
place. For any team the forming stage is
important because it‟s when team mem-
bers get to know one another, exchange
personal information, and make friends.
In the „storming‟ stage the team ad-
dresses issues such as what problems they
are really supposed to solve, how they will
function independently and together, and
what leadership model they will accept.
Team members open up to each other and
confront each other's ideas and perspec-
tives.
In the „norming‟ stage, the group
„normalizes its procedures — goals are set
and plans are made. All team members
take responsibilities and have the ambition
to work for the success of the team's goals.
In the final stage, „high-performing‟
teams are able to function as a unit as they
find ways to get the job done smoothly and
effectively without inappropriate conflict or
the need for external supervision.
Research has shown that out of 100 people
who have a dream, only 10 take a signifi-
cant step towards realizing the dream, and
only 1 gets to realize the dream. We
called this the 100:10:1 rule that we use
during our team building sessions. Contact
us to know more about this rule and how
understanding it can help you be the 1 out
of the 100 who realize the dream.
DID
YOU
KNOW?
BUILT TO LAST Kithimani Building, Kithimani
(next to Manyatta Hotel)
PHONE - 0713054985
YCAT Kuku The poultry project is facing a boom
with partnership on marketing with the
Ministry of Youth and training on finan-
cial literacy from Equity Foundation. Currently we have expanded our stock
and working on a construction project
for a bigger and a better poultry house.
YCAT Tree Project Currently with 4000 tree seedlings and
growing (number and size!) day by day.
YCAT at Embu Camp Members attended the recent Embu Camp
and learnt more on leadership issues.
YattaCAT PROJECTS
Fruit & Veg from YCAT
Let‘s
Clean
Yatta!
12
Kenyans went to the polls on March
4th 2013 and ushered in a new era
that involves a devolved governance.
Counties wll be receiving up to 15%
of the national budget and are ex-
pected to have more revenue collec-
tion from within their borders.
The BIG Question is, will all this
translate into good service delivery,
in line with our new constitution?
‗County Tracker‘ is a new and
innovative governance tool Nakuru
CAT is developing in partnership
with the other CATs in Nakuru
County. It will be a system designed
to keep an eye on County Govern-
ment progress and activities, at each
step. Get in touch with us and help
us keep our counties accountable.
Nakuru Springs The Climate Action Team in Nakuru
Organic Experience
COUNTY-TRACKER: An innovation in advocacy
and governance
DEVELOPING ENTERPRISE (the ups and downs of becoming a viable CAT)
We would like to share the experience so far in building Nakuru Springs, as a case of
challenges and opportunities for transforming sometimes naive youthful creativity,
into a thriving business venture within a solid social enterprise organization.
For the past 15 months Nakuru CAT has had a fluid membership. The group started in February
2012, registering as a self help group, „Nakuru Springs‟, in April 2012 and kick-started its opera-
tions by utilizing the creativity of its members to develop innovative products, such as hand bags,
table mats and bead work from re-used and recycled waste. The project was very innovative and
we imagined the sky would be the limit to what we could achieve. The project however ran into
problems of marketing, as pricing for products
was too high. Here, we learnt a hard lesson
on business operations and profitability.
The group later started a juice making and
distribution business which was coupled with
fruit tree nursery establishment to make the
business green. The group had initially evalu-
ated other projects such as poultry business
and pig farming, but those two businesses
were shelved at the start because they were
considered risky and the group members
were not confident enough to undertake
them due to inexperience. The jewellery and
mat making business was shelved because the
most skilled members in the art joined college. The juice making business had some operational
challenges such as short shelf life for the juice that necessitated refrigeration. The group also
started a charcoal briquette manufacturing and distribution business.
Between October and December, the project was on a low opera-
tion, due to project management changes. The group was thus
mainly involved in marketing solar lights (provided by CAPSAY) to
the local community. Starting January this year, management issues
were dealt with and the project came back to full operation with a
lot of fast-tracking activities. Part of the this was to acquire new
and more vibrant members and to stabilize membership. The new
members who joined
the Nakuru group
undertook to upscale
the charcoal briquette business, focusing on distribu-
tion, rather than manufacturing.
Compared to many, the new Nakuru CAT can boast
good female representation; starting with 6 males/6
females, the current ratio is 14 males to 9 females.
A FRESH START: In March this year, the
group joined premises with the CAPSAY office, ac-
quired new members and fresh life, with a renewed
focus on agri-business. The current team is now very
optimistic and confident that they have finally gone
through the most turbulent phase of organizational
development and can now move forward to greater
success in the coming year.
(From Eric Mokua, Nakuru Springs CAT)
Nakuru Springs Contacts:
Section 58, Nkr-Nrb Highway
P.O. Box 17347-20100, Nakuru,
PHONE — 0735025432
Twitter: @nakurusprings
Ladies can do this too! Carol Nyambura from Nakuru Springs
leads the way in preparing their plot for veggies.
Nakuru Springs members in their new office.
Nakuru CAT has been working
closely with the Ministry of Agricul-
ture, and other stakeholders to pro-
mote organic agriculture.
The task of promoting organic is difficult
because Nakuru consumers seem not to
be interested in whether food is grown
using inorganic fertilizers and herbicides
or organic manure and natural control.
But there is hope. Maina, an organic
farmer visited by Nakuru CAT, together
with representatives from the Interna-
tional Organic Farmers Association, con-
firmed that crops from his farm grew
faster, compared to crops grown by his
neighbours, using chemical fertilizers and
herbicides. Maina also assured us that his
produce was sweeter and more nutritious.
This confirms previous studies by various
research bodies (e.g. UNEP) that organic
systems are not only better for our envi-
ronment, but also the foods are more
healthy for us when we eat them.
The BIG question is, why hasn‟t the gov-
ernment made deliberate efforts to pro-
mote organic agriculture? AND … Are
inorganic methods really sustainable?
13
AND …
get modern
with your
methods: ????
Keen listening gives you a better chance
of gaining a deeper understanding into the
problems you are trying to solve and, es-
pecially if there are issues under the sur-
face, which are being hinted at than being
disclosed outright.
Seek Synergies Whether working on a new development
or changing an existing one, there are
bound to be differences of opinion.
Be diligent
and
be persistent!
Cultivate a network
While high achievers may seem like they
got to where they are all on their own,
a lot of them agree that networks are
the key to success. It is important to
cultivate an inner circle of people who
care about your personal and profes-
sional growth, these are the people who
can offer you support and give you that
extra push.
Listen deeply
A good habit of change makers is the
ability to listen deeply. Most times, we
only listen as far as we are interested
before we jump in with what we think
are our brilliant suggestions or ideas.
USEFUL SITES FOR
CHANGEMAKERS
KenyaCAT IS COMING: the
new national brand that will
bring together all the CATs
across the country.
The KenyaCAT brand is going to
provide a national platform for col-
laboration, networking, fund raising
and marketing for the CAT project
and CAT innovations. Ideas like
Naivasha‟s .Eco-Broom‟ and Mom-
basa‟s „Eco-Flame‟, can both be
marketed as KenyaCAT.
KenyaCAT
So, what does a young changemaker need to do ?
There is a great deal of scope for CATs to get really ‗GREEN‘ by going
‗organic‘. This could be in the form of growing organic vegetables and fruits,
OR maybe in the shape of recycling organic wastes OR perhaps even producing organic manures and liquid fertilizers. The opportunities are
there and the markets are opening up rapidly for these types of enterprises.
FOR MORE INFORAMTION CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CAT OFFICER.
NjoroCAT: bridge to Uni CAT
The new NjoroCAT sits on the doorstep of
Egerton University. CATs focus on community
and Egerton also prides itself on community
linkages. So why not „marry‟ the two?…for mu-
tual benefit? In time, KenyaCAT aims to start a
„UniCAT‟ arm and we hope that NjoroCAT can
work with Egerton, to pilot this exciting idea.
The context for a UniCAT initiative is that stu-
dents from KCCP clubs in secondary schools
transit to a CAT group, after Form4. But after a
short time with their CAT, some students move
on again, to university. Being then able to join a
UniCAT would ensure that the talent and com-
mitment of these valued CAT members is not
lost, but kept alive! Comments please???
New CATs COMING (Two examples of new CATs, starting April 2013. More in next KenyaCAT newsletter)
GilGil CAT ‗Greenfest‘
Elementaita GreenFest is a unique annual
event proposed by GilGil CAT, that aims to
use sports, music and eco-tourism to promote
conservation of Lake Elementaita and the sur-
rounding environment.
The objectives are; to promote the tourism
potential of the region, to attract investments
related to the lake‟s ecosystem, and to in-
crease community awareness regarding con-
servation of the lake and its catchment area.
GilGil CAT will also link up to the local Sanata
Trust, to learn from them and assist in the
production and marketing of alternative fuel
briquettes. Currently „SANCHAT‟ produces 10
tonnes per day!! THAT‘S IMPRESSIVE!!
To be, or not to be ... ORGANIC?
GROW
GREEN
RECYCLE
GREEN
MAKE
GREEN
http://uk.ashoka.org/changemaker
http://www.mindtools.com
http://www.yesworld.org/
www.echoinggreen.org
www.changemaker.org
http://www.abetterworldbydesign.com/
http://www.ned.com/group/seeb/ws/
www.IFOAM.org
www.irfc.org
http://youthpolicy.blogspot.com
14
Future Plans
Eco-fab is a fantastic,
brand name initiative
that Green Platinum is
working on. The aim is to
create a highly-functional,
very attractive and wholely
affordable design, using re-claimed and sustainable
materials. This is what hap-
pens when youthful crea-
tivity and good design come together for the greater
good of the environment. WELL DONE ‗GP‘!
All you need is a GROUP
and a
GOAL We are develop-
ing the Collec-
tive Action
Toolkit (CAT)
that will be
availed on our
website and to
every CAT. It's designed to be flexible and accessi-
ble, with an action map and activities arranged into
six categories, from building a group, to imagining
new ideas, to planning change.
The toolkit challenges groups to move beyond dis-
cussion to action, continually clarifying their shared
goals based on what they learn through the problem-
6-MONTH CALENDAR
Period Activities include
May Training and induction of new Kenya CATs
Publication and launch of KenyaCAT Newsletter
June Launch of the KenyaCAT brand of products
Participation in World Environment Day
July UNHabitat training—Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
CATs support schools in micro-project development
AUG Regional training on assembly of solar lanterns
Exchange programmes for CAT groups, in regions
SEPT Projected launch of the ECOS cookstove project
Publication of KenyaCAT newsletter, Issue No. 2
OCT CATs and KCCP Regional Showcasing events
CAPSAY National Conference in Nairobi
So, look out for the Collective Action
Toolkit (CAT) ... COMING SOON!
Energy Efficiency Ambassadors CAPSAY/CATs has agreed with UN Habitat to work
together to promote the efficient use of energy in the
locality of each CAT. This could include: making and
marketing solar lights; energy efficient cookstoves, bio-
gas & gasification, and generally promoting awareness
and action on energy issues.
UN Habitat will support this, by providing intensive training for
CAT members (10 from each group) to enable greater under-
standing related to energy and support development of energy-
related projects, in CAT communities.
The first training will take place in Nairobi, July 1st to 5th, and
will include training from Kenyan and East African energy spe-
cialists. Attendees will be selected on merit.
ECOS The Energy Conserving Stove
ECOS is a logo you will hear much more of in
the future. It is a newly innovated clean cook-
stove that will revolutionise cooking and water
heating, will be friendly to the environment and
healthy for humans. More than this we are also
planning for CATs to be involved in marketing
and distribution of ECOS!
As we go to press with this newsletter, things are not
yet finalised, but if ideas materialise, then by September
this year, we hope to be training CAT members and
equipping you with the capacity to work with your com-
munities (schools, groups and individuals) to play your
part in making a cleaner and greener Kenya. And, you
will receive income for your involvement. WIN, WIN,
they say! More on this very soon.
15
KenyaCAT is a publication of the Climate Action Programme for
Schools and Youth, 80 Muthithi Road, Westlands, P.O. Box 11349 -
00100 Nairobi, Email: [email protected], Website: www.capsay.org
Layout & Design: Nelson Ochieng Opany, Editing: Kevin Ochieng,
Final Editing & Design: Greig Whitehead, Copyright ©CAPSAY.
Our Partners Key partners in the Climate Action Programme for Schools and Youth include:
