LWF continues to support local community-based organizations (CBOs) and youth in raising awareness on environmental issues. With support from WWF through their Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program, LWF has inspired young people to speak out boldly for nature. Their voices, passionate, informed, and solution-oriented, have been captured and shared across social media platforms, sparking vital conversations on environmental conservation. The project also supports the Likii Water Resource Users Association (WRUA) Scouts and communities in the informal settlements of Likii and Kangaita villages in the water quality assessment using citizen science.
One of the most energizing conversations has been the “Taka Ni Pesa” (Waste is Wealth) Youth Café. This platform challenged young minds to reimagine waste not as a problem, but as an opportunity. In the informal settlements where waste management is often neglected, the Youth Café sparked innovative thinking. Ideas flowed: transforming plastic into fencing posts, converting organic waste into biogas, using glass for eco-construction, and turning discarded clothes into fashion seats and other products.
John Maigua, Coordinator of Ngarisha Mtaa, engages participants during the “Taka Ni Pesa” Youth Café, sparking conversations on turning waste into wealth. Photo Credit- Bamba Radio
Participants explored how waste can fuel livelihoods, restore dignity, and create green jobs. The message was simple yet powerful: every bottle, wrapper, or banana peel has value. Young people were not just learning about recycling; they were being empowered to lead the green economy. The event lit a fire of possibility: a movement where youth become eco-entrepreneurs, leading sustainable innovations in their communities.
Building on this energy, a second Youth Café focused on the question: “Maji Yetu: Ni Safi ama Ni Chafu?” (Is our water clean or dirty?). This gathering encouraged youth to dive deep into the state of their rivers. They explored how the flow of the river mirrors the choices made upstream, from farming practices to sanitation, from industrial waste to household dumping.
The community shared their experiences, recognizing that while water may appear clean at the source, pollution increases downstream. Through engaging demonstrations and citizen science tools, youth learned how to assess water quality using simple but effective methods, from pH tests to biological monitoring with macroinvertebrates.
The exercise was not just technical. It was emotional. It revealed how closely people’s health and dignity are tied to water. In the informal areas, many have no access to piped water and rely on streams whose quality is rarely questioned. But here, youth took charge collecting data, sharing findings, and beginning to ask: how can we protect what gives us life?
Throughout the project, Likii WRUA scouts continued to monitor river health across seasons. Despite facing challenges such as limited equipment and support, their commitment has never wavered. Their findings, showing clear water during dry spells and spikes in contamination during rains, have helped communities understand the direct link between behavior and river health.
This story is not just about rivers and waste. It is about awakening. It is about giving young people a voice in decisions that shape their environment. It is about shifting from complaint to creativity, from pollution to purpose.
In Laikipia, the river is no longer voiceless. Youth have taken the microphone and their message is clear: Maji Yetu Jukumu letu (Our water our responsibility).
