How Jumuisha initiative is spearheading climate resilience, development in Eastern Kenya

Jumuisha Initiative is a Community Based Organization in Eastern Kenya. The grassroots youth organization works in rural Makueni, Kenya.  Its core goal is to promote the inclusion of all in socio-economic development.

Since 2016, the organisation has worked within Makueni, Kajiado, Kitui and Taita Taveta to promote social change and social responsibility among youth and women.

Its beneficiaries are able to represent their communities in socio economic development as they learn and earnest opportunities with courage and skill.

Ernest Kimilu is the founder of Jumuisha initiative that has overseen the planting of over 150,000 trees.

Kimilu shares his journey as an a youthful changemaker

Tell us about Jumuisha Initaitive

Jumuisha initiative is a community based organization based in Makueni county Kenya that was established in the year 2015. Being a women and youth led organization, it focuses on three main units: community development, landscape restoration and environment conservation and Jumuisha academy. These three units collaborate to initiate change within our designated area of Makueni Kenya.

How would you describe your impact todate?

The organization has successfully restored over 200ha of land by planting 150,000 trees. Under community development the organization has done programs like youth resilience and belonging (YRB) project that looks at creating opportunities for youth employability levels and upscaling their life skills. Under Jumuisha academy which is a program that focuses on making academic agenda better, the organization has sponsored two children to tertiary level in education

Who are some of your partners and how have they strengthened the impact of your work?

We have worked with the community as our main stakeholder We have also worked with the county and national governments and funders like firelight foundation, WRI and One tree planted, among others.

As a changemaker, what impact would you want to leave? How would you want to be remembered?

Creating a responsible youth in the county through upscaling their skills and grooming an active, responsible and actively participating youth in development.