Youth and Art in Environmental Conservationby | 07-05-2015 14:33 |
|---|
   Like many other developing countries in the sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya is vulnerable to effects of climate change. Roughly 42% of Kenya?s GDP and 70% of overall employment is derived from natural resource-related sectors, including agriculture, mining, forestry, fishing, tourism, water supply and energy. While climate change will lead to adverse impacts across all of these sectors, agricultural stands apart as particularly vulnerable since its dependent on rainfall. Therefore the effects of climate change pose a threat on the economic, social and environmental development and achievement of the Kenyan Vision 2030. Kenya face challenges of increasing population, youth unemployment and environmental degradation .These problems are a reflection of a crisis of the mind that cannot be resolved by law and policies alone. There is need to integrate a holistic approach toward the problem, a change from within in so far as attitudes and behavior towards the environment is concerned. One way to approach solving environmental problems on a sustainable basis is implementing creative ideas that empower, educate and engage young people on environmental issues. Arts and creative works are powerful communication tools to engage youths on climate change issues since they help overcome barriers of language, age and cultures across all levels. Dramas and theatre plays expand awareness and understanding around key environmental issues and majority can relate with. There are opportunities for the youth in emerging environmental challenges such as solid waste management. Recently several individuals and youth community based organizations in Kenya who have started waste recycling business projects have won international awards from their role in environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation.Plastic Fantastic is a startup Venture based out of Ngong in Nairobi, Kenya that runs a programme through which plastic waste is collected from different parts of city, sorted and transformed into a raw material that artisans use to make jewellery and other fashion accessories. Last but not least, youths need to believe in their potential to change the world. Africa future belongs to its youths, we must exercise our numbers, intellect, creativity in the pursuit of a sustainable future. As young people we need to be self-organized in particularly when addressing climate change issues in our communities. Adapting to climate change is not a choice but a survival mechanism to make end meets in our individual lives. Photos Courtesy of Dudu Arts & Creative works
|
