RCE Greater Nairobi - 2019

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Basic Information
Title of project : 
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Nairobi
Contributing organization(s) : 
Organization A: HERI Foundation
Organization B: Kenyatta University
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Ms. Loise Waiyaki
Organizational Affiliation: 
HERI Foundation
E-mail: 
loise.waiyaki@gmail.com
Name: 
Dr. Esther Kitur
Organizational Affiliation: 
Kenyatta University
E-mail: 
estherkitur2015@gmail.com
Name: 
Mr. Douglas Kinyanjui
Organizational Affiliation: 
HERI Foundation
E-mail: 
kinyanjuidougie@gmail.com
Format of project: 
Powerpoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Web link: 
NONE
Additional resources: 
NONE
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
National Energy Policy of 2015
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Kenya
Location(s): 
Kiambu and Nairobi Counties
Address of focal point institution for project: 
HERI Foundation
Tel: +254723584307 / +254722309416
Kiambu County
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Forest, Grassland, Urban/Peri-urban
Target Audience:
Community, Higher, Primary, Secondary, Teacher Ed., TVET, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The area is characterized by a steady increase in population and urbanization which leads to pressure on natural resources. The high population depends on wood products as fuel for domestic use and heating purposes in the tea and coffee factories that are found within the area. This has resulted in severe deforestation due to cutting down of trees for firewood and charcoal burning.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The demographic of the area is low income population who eke their living by degrading the environment through use of fuel wood and charcoal for their domestic uses. The population is resistant to change as they cannot afford alternatives sources of energy due to high cost of living. With increased population comes generation of waste which has littered the slum and posed health risk due to lack of proper disposal methods yet the waste, more so organic waste can serve as renewable energy source
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2015 to December, 2020
Rationale: 
There is a lot of organic waste which has not been having any economic value in the area but instead has been a health hazard. The wastes include tree leaves that fall with change of seasons as well as during pruning of hedges, agricultural wastes such as spoilt kales, rice husks, left over foods from hotels and institutions, animal wastes such as chicken droppings, cow and pigs dung. Therefore, there is need to educate the community on how to convert the waste into an economically valuable resource by generating fuel from the waste. This will not only help in managing the waste and conserving the environment but will also have added benefits of having a cheaper and renewable energy source as well as receiving additional income by selling the surplus fuel, therefore improving the community’s livelihood.
Objectives: 
1. To produce a product which is cheap and burns for longer time with less smoke a chronic health hazard.
2. Convert waste to energy
3. Decrease the cutting of tress for fuel wood and charcoal burning.
4. Build capacity of trainers of trainers at community level
5. Create sustainable income generating activities in renewable energy while connecting research to the local communities through appropriate renewable energy technologies.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
1. Training community groups and youth groups on how to prepare raw materials for making briquettes
2. Training the community on the ratio of raw material and binding agent for different organic wastes and how to mix them
3. Training the community on the calculating the cost of production, packaging, marketing and financial record keeping
4. Training selected community members as trainer of trainers in renewable energy
Size of academic audience: 
At each training, approximately 5 Community men, women groups and informal youth groups attend
Results: 
a. The results was an alternative source of fuel, the briquettes, which is cheap, safe and burns for a long time with less smoke as compared to fuel wood and charcoal. This contributed to achievement of SDG 7
b. The use of organic waste saves a number of tress which would be used as fuel wood or charcoal burning, contributing to SDG 15.
c. It reduce the problem of solid waste management where the waste is converted to energy hence ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns in line with SDG 12.
d. The community was economically empowered through the sale of surplus briquettes as well as being self-employed thereby ending poverty as per SDG 1.
Lessons learned: 
Safe and clean affordable energy is not only from non-renewable sources, but with the use of appropriate technology and research, organic waste is a rich source of renewable energy.

There is need for experts to embrace community education, in order to bring solutions to the local communities for sustainable development in the region
Key messages: 
Organic waste is not waste but a source of clean safe renewable energy.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
The project has a relationship with:-
a. Environmental education programme for integrated solid waste management in Kiambu County
b. Conversion of waste to energy project in Kiambu County.
Funding: 
Self-sponsored project

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon Photo 1.png (893.19 KB) A community group being tained HERI Foundation
Image icon Photo 2.png (764.08 KB) Demonstration of making briquettes during a training session to a community group HERI Foundation
Image icon Photo 3.png (1.64 MB) Exhibition of briquettes made from different types of organic materials during an open day event HERI Foundation
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Forests/Trees 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct