Base Titanium, an Australian mining company in Kwale County, has been working in conserving the environment since it began its operations in the region.
The company in partnership with education stakeholders rolled out the Schools Environmental and Social Education Programme in 2017, as part of helping the Kwale community mitigate the effects of climate change and promoting environmental conservation.
The main goal of the project was to empower young generations on environmental conservation.
The programme has been rolled out in over 40 schools within the mining-affected areas.
“You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people. You inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them,” Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai once said.
Maathai's strong words are what Base Titanium has lived to believe since commencing mining operations in Kwale County in 2011.
Enock Mweni, a Class 7 pupil at Fihoni Primary School, is one among the many students who have benefited from the programme.
The programme has not just imparted knowledge about environmental conservation but also transformed their lives.
"The school environmental programme has done wonders for my life. It has made me keep off from drugs and bad company," he said.
Mweni joined the club in January. He got motivated by his colleagues who won dozens of awards last year during the school environmental competitions held in Magaoni.
"I got envious when I saw my friends winning the competition and receiving plenty of money," he said.
He shared the knowledge with his mum and implemented the tree-planting idea in his home garden.
At the moment, Mweni has 1,450 trees of different types, including neem, orange, and mango seedlings.
The seedlings are earning him money, which he uses to support his education and family.
The environment club has instilled discipline in Mweni and improved his academic performance.
According to his mother, Catherine Nyamvula, the club has saved his son from many social vices.
Nyamvula said many schoolchildren in the area are addicted to muguka and bhang.
She said after school, Mweni gets busy with his trees and later does his homework, something that has improved his school grades.
"Thanks to this environment programme, my son is always busy taking care of his tree seedlings and education. There is no time to sit idle," she said.
Lucy Kaphuda from Ramisi Secondary School is another pupil who is being empowered by the Base Titanium School Environmental programme.
She and other students have delved into waste management where they recycle plastic and paper.
Kaphuda said with help of their teachers they turn waste into money. They use old plastic bottles and paper to make toys and home decorations.
"Instead of littering the environment, we decided to do recycling. We collect plastics and design them into something attractive," she said.
She said the main objective is to reduce threats caused by the excessive dumping of plastic waste materials in the ocean.
Kaphuda said they sell a few things to parents and guests during the environmental school competitions.
She, however, said they have not yet started earning much because they are waiting for experts to do some assessment.
The Form 4 girl said the programme has enhanced their creativity and skills that are required in the competitive job market.
Kaphuda said the programme has helped her recognize her hidden potential.
"I never knew I had these abilities until I joined the environment club," she said.
Kaphuda said she would pursue the project even after finishing school.
Ramisi Secondary Geography teacher Silali Weswa said the environment learning initiative in school has brought many benefits to the students.
He said it has made the children mentally active as a lot of practice is involved.
Weswa said the majority of the students enrolled in the environment school clubs have acquired knowledge that will sustain thems in future.
"There is plenty of creative work students are doing and with the high level of unemployment they can apply these skills for self-employment," he said.
Base's environment manager Mika Muema said the programme is part of the company's efforts to promote conservation.
"We are striving to protect the environment by supporting environmental initiatives in schools to reach out to many people," he said.
Muema said the students are taught how to manage the environment by being introduced to various recycling methods and conserving the environment to mitigate the effects of climate change.
He said they are targeting students so that they can grow up protecting the environment and help the government reach the 10 per cent forest cover.
Muema said Base is determined to empower the lives of the community through projects.
He advised the teachers to take advantage of the programme to transform their lives and those of the students through conservation.
Msambweni sub-county director of education Abraham Nyamawi commended the programme, saying it will support the government's efforts in improving food security.
