Many youths who complete their university education tend to look for white-collar job opportunities. A few others venture into business. This, for many, has not been a smooth encounter as some end up believing their certificates have not helped them to secure jobs, pursue their dreams and achieve financial stability.
However, for 25-year-old Dorcas Mumbe, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Conservation and Natural Resources Management graduate, the education she acquired in school was only meant to supplement her passion for environmental conservation and climate change.
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Mumbe who resides in Kitui County started educating her neighbours about the importance of growing trees and how such efforts address climate change and food security challenges. In the process, she met a team of environmentalists from Climate Resilient Agribusiness For Tomorrow (CRAFT) and joined them to pursue the climate change course. The project seeks to implement climate change mitigation farming to increase the availability of climate-smart foods.
The project targets planting more fruit trees which helps in conserving the environment, getting food to the community and also creating a sustainable livelihood to the community.
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Speaking to Upeo Hub Digital, Mumbe said the project is based in Kitui County and targets small-scale farmers who are trained in climate, smart agriculture and tree growing.
“This initiative targets young people who are trained in tree nursery set-up, seedlings propagation, and nursery management. We also help them in market linkages so that they earn a living and promote tree growing at the household levels to increase the forest cover in Kitui County,” she said.
She added that they are currently promoting indigenous trees, timber, fruit trees and landscaping trees.
Mumbe urged the government and other stakeholders to devolve government departments assigned to handle forests and the environment to enable more production of quality tree seedlings at ward and village levels.
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The climate change champion explained that she has helped in registering 20 youth groups which she has supported in establishing tree nurseries to help in tackling the climate change agenda in Kenya.
“The groups commercialize tree growing. They make a decision on suitable tree species and own their projects for financial sustainability. We also diversify the tree species based on local ecology and adaptation of the tree to a given area,” Dorcas Mumbe added.
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Mumbe said that community members have embraced the project. Some are even sharing personal resources to facilitate the nurturing of the tree seedlings.
“There is a personal commitment towards the project, Community members donate a piece of land which will help in facilitating the activities. We have not had any challenges in getting land for the projects. They are willing and ready to offer the pieces of land.” Mumbe affirmed.
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Mumbe advised youths to always stay focused on what they want to do in life despite the challenges they encounter. She further encouraged them to start with the small idea and resources they have as they aim far. Mumbe believes young people can change the global narrative around climate change if each one of them takes action to address the challenge.
“In a few years to come, I would like to be a global climate change champion, while partnering with world climate actors to bring change to the world. I would also wish to see enhanced adequate food supply in the country and Africa at large,” the environmentalist concluded.
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