Applications for the second edition of the Young Environmentalist Challenge (YEIC) are now open. The challenge launched on June 25th, 2024 by the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) supports innovative ideas that promote environmental conservation, sustainable resource management, and environmental advocacy for young people.
This second edition of YEIC embraces the theme “Green Coded,” emphasizing the pivotal role of technology in conservation. The challenge is to endorse innovations that tackle waste management, environmental conservation, and environmental solutions.
This year’s edition seeks to award three young individual environment champions with grants of up to KES 1.5 Million and six organizations with grants of up to Sh5 Million each, for implementing their unique environment conservation-based ideas.
“We have always seen the opportunities that communities have to take charge of their development but also the key significance of young people in the work. Last year we decided we were going to put a significant resource towards young people and their work around environmental conservation and innovation. And that is how this challenge came to be,” said Grace Maingi the Executive Director of KCDF.
Speaking at the event, Kihara Maina the CEO of I&M bank applauded the initiative as timely as the world today is faced with unprecedented environmental crises including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
“As a community, we need to know the difference between tree planting and tree growing and embrace the latter which is more effective,” Maina said
The event emphasized the need for youth involvement played a key role in the mitigation of the current global environmental challenges.
KCDF Chairman Gordon Odundo challenged the youth to take the lead in conserving the environment by thinking boldly, acting courageously, and collaborating generously.
“The young people you are the leaders of today and tomorrow,” he said.
The first edition of the YEIC was launched in July 2023. It received over 200 applications where 5 innovations emerged as winners. They comprised of:
Inua Dam site, Nyandarua County-Awarded Ksh. 5 million
A Community-Based Organization that has a processing facility that reclaims fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste to produce nutritious powders, jam, and other products.
Eco Rich Solutions in Kahawa Sukari-Awarded Ksh 5 million
Operates in Kibera, using an AI-enabled decomposer that turns organic waste into nutritious fertilizer for farming.
Farmer Lifeline Technology in Kiambu County-Awarded Ksh.5million
Provides agricultural technology solutions that provide a crop pest and disease detection device allowing farmers to increase in production yields.
Fruity School Africa in Nairobi -Awarded Ksh.5 million
Grows fruit trees in schools, health centers, and smallholder farms as a climate change mitigation measure and a food and nutrition security strategy.
Placom Manufactures in Kiambu County-Awarded Ksh.3,950,000
A social business venture that recycles plastic waste to produce furniture and decor products to empower marginalized communities out of poverty whilst contributing to environmental conservation.
The second edition of the challenge is now open for applications with youths aged between 15-35 encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity.
