By ERIC WAINAINA?
When her name was called out as the winner of Wangari Maathai Scholarship Fund, Abigael Ndinda sighed.
She had participated in the environmental conservation initiative but had not expected to scoop the Sh800,000 Environmental Innovations Fund Scholarship award.
Ndinda, a second year student at Mount Kenya University (MKU), won the award through her initiative to protect the environment. She formed Matiliku Youth Group, which she used in tree-planting exercises to mitigate effects of desertification and conserving surface run-off water.Through the initiative, Ndinda and her colleagues have planted 5,000 trees and sold others to members of her community.
The group used money obtained from selling the trees to buy half-acre piece of land.
“When you go out and act, you create an example and people learn from you a lot better than when you just talk to them. We used the resources to create a difference in our home area, and we hope to continue growing our conservation efforts,” said an ecstatic Ndinda, 22, after she won the award by Rockefeller Foundation.
She noted that the youth have a role to play in saving and protecting the environment.
“We all have the power to make a difference. The environment is our collective responsibility and coming together to initiate these projects has helped develop our life skills,” she added. Ms Wanjira Mathai, Director of International Affairs at Green Belt Movement International observed: “It makes me proud when I see a young person like Abigael take on the mantle of leadership in environmental issues. The environment remains the primary focus of our organisation because of its crucial role in supporting humanity as a whole. Efforts to promote environmental awareness and conservation can never be limited to one choice group. We each have an individual responsibility to get involved.”
Rockefeller Foundation Africa regional office interim managing director Eme Essien said the youth ought to be given incentive and encouragement to participate in environmental conservation.
“Innovation is one common element that underpins the greatest solutions that have been found to challenges across diverse fields that range from agriculture, education and health,” she said.
MKU Associate Dean Suleiman Mbaruka said Ndinda has great passion for nature although she was studying medicine.
Wangari Maathai Scholarship Fund is affiliated to the Maathai Award, which was established by Rockefeller Foundation, the Midler Family Trust, New York Restoration Project and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation was launch.
