The Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) has awarded KES 23,950,000 to five youth-led organizations as part of its Young Environmentalist Innovative Challenge (YEIC), aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and conservation. The award ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, marked the conclusion of the challenge’s inaugural edition, launched in 2023, and celebrated the innovative efforts of the winning organizations.
The honored organizations included Inua DamSite from Nyandarua County, EcoRich Solutions and Placom Manufacturers from Nairobi County, and Farmer Lifeline Technologies and Fruity Schools Africa from Kiambu County. The event also saw the launch of the second edition of YEIC, which aims to support three individual environmental champions with grants of up to KES 1.5 million each and six organizations with grants of up to KES 5 million each.
Supported by philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, the YEIC fund encourages innovative approaches to environmental conservation, sustainable resource management, and community resilience. KCDF has partnered with the National Environment Trust Fund (NetFund), Green Generation Initiative (GGI), and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) to identify and support top environmental ideas through this initiative.
The ceremony was attended by a diverse group of youth representatives, private sector stakeholders, environmental advocates, and enthusiasts, emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation in tackling global challenges such as drought and climate change. The role of digital technology in enhancing environmental protection efforts was also highlighted.
Chief Guest Mr. Kihara Maina, Regional CEO of I&M Group PLC, praised KCDF for its dedication to fostering youth innovations. He stressed the government’s role as an enabler, suggesting the use of tax revenues to support youth-driven innovations, which are often challenging for individuals to undertake alone. Mr. Maina noted that sustainability is closely linked to profitability, which can fund transformative innovations.
“We are committed to leading change through shared value, significantly investing in environmental conservation, education, skills training, and economic empowerment. The YEIC competition is a commendable initiative, and I hope the second iteration will expand its reach and impact, engaging diverse partners in addressing environmental challenges,” said Mr. Maina.
KCDF Executive Director Ms. Grace Maingi underscored the need to advance innovation within the development sector while controlling carbon emissions. “Our goal is to empower young people by recognizing their potential through the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge. As we open the second call for applicants, we have extended eligibility to individuals aged 15 to 35, offering grants of up to KES 5 million.”
Ms. Maingi added, “Fostering sustainable change for development is central to our mission. To achieve this, we are committed to leveraging technology. Our theme, ‘Green and Coded,’ focuses on innovative waste management solutions and digital transformations that will drive future progress.”
Elizabeth Wathuti, Founder of Green Generation Initiative (GGI), highlighted the YEIC challenge as a timely and empowering platform for Kenya’s youth, who often face intense competition for resources from larger organizations. “We are at a crucial juncture where our decisions will shape the legacy for future generations. This challenge provides a unique opportunity to harness the local ingenuity and passion of young people, enabling them to lead in environmental stewardship,” she concluded.
Applications for the 2024 edition of the Young Environmentalist Innovation Challenge are now open on the KCDF website: www.kcdf.or.ke
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