Environmental Education Programme 2021/2022

Maryann Odoemen 

My name is Maryann Odoemen, I am a sixteen-year-old student at African Child College. I want to first and foremost thank ISNAD-Africa and WWF for the initiative to set up the Eco Heroes Club in my school, and our advisor Dr Etim, as well as our club coordinators for their guidance and direction. As a member of the club, I have learnt a lot during the Environmental Education Project. I am really happy to be able to help contribute to the reduction of global warming through production of solar reading lamps. It makes me want to explore more on the project and do more to reduce the negative effect of climate change in the world. Thank you.

Gift Levi Daniel

I am Gift Levi Daniel, an SS1 student at African Child College and a proud member of Eco Heroes club. I am happy with the Environmental Education Project we did that was sponsored by ISNAD-Africa and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), I would like to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ to the two organization for giving us the opportunity to bring our ideas and innovation to reality, also to Dr Etim, our advisor, and our two club coordinators. I am glad to be part of the project that will help to reduce the effect of fossil fuels in our environment.

Adebayo Precious

I am Adebayo Precious, an SS2 student at African Child College, and a member of Eco Heroes club. I have learnt so much about climate change from the club and I’m really excited about the Environmental Education Project. Before now, I didn’t know I could produce anything useful, but now, with what I have learnt, I am confident that I can bring impactful changes to my environment. I really appreciate our Advisor Dr Etim, the two club coordinators, ISNAD-Africa and WWF for their encouragement, leading us through the project, and making funds available for the project. 

Patrick David 

My name is Patrick David; I am a member of the Eco Heroes club set up by ISNAD-Africa in my school, African Child College. I have been enlightened and educated about various solutions to climate change through the solar-powered reading lamps sponsored by ISNAD-Africa and WWF. I am excited to be a member of the team whose project (EEP) is a step forward towards achieving a pollution-free environment. 

Abobi Precious

My name is Abobi Precious. I am the current team leader of Eco Heroes club of African Child College. Since the club advent, we have been educated about various solutions to climate change, especially with the production of solar powered reading lamp that was sponsored by ISNAD-Africa and WWF. The Environmental Education Project serves as a drive for me to expand on the knowledge learnt and help to create other solar-powered equipment that will be less expensive and not polluting. 

Goodluck Sunday 

I am Goodluck Sunday. I am a student at African Child College and a member of Eco Heroes Club. I’d like to appreciate the efforts of our club coordinators, advisor, ISNAD-Africa and WWF for sponsoring the Environmental Education Project of producing solar reading lamps for students.  The knowledge gained from the project equips me with skills that will enable become financially independent in the future. I am glad to be part of the club that has helped to proffer solution to environmental issues. 

Joseph Ochai 

I am Joseph Ochai, a student at African Child College and a member of Eco Heroes Club. I really learnt a lot from a lot from the Environmental Education Project, I am able to produce a solar reading lamp all by myself without supervision. I am very happy that I’m able to add value to the society through this means, the project helped me think critically and learn new things. I appreciate ISNAD-Africa and WWF for sponsoring the project that will help students read comfortably at night without noise or polluted air. 

Sharon Jesse

My name is Sharon Jesse, I am a 14-year-old student of African Child College, and a member of Eco Heroes Club. The club through our coordinators and advisor provided a platform for me to learn and understand the adverse effects of climate change and how to prevent it, especially by reducing our human activities that pollutes the environment. I appreciate ISNAD-Africa and WWF for sponsoring our Environmental Education Project; the solar reading lamp, which is a pollution free source of energy as it does not emit harmful gases while generating power. 

Victor Omogoni

My name is Victor Omogoni, a student at African Child College and a member of Eco Heroes Club. My appreciation goes to ISNAD-Africa and WWF for funding our solar reading lamp EEP project through the efforts of our club coordinators and advisor. I have learnt to make good use of things I find around my environment to solve problems, try new ideas and innovations. Thank you. 

Cynthia Kanu 

I am Cynthia Kanu, a member of Eco Heroes Club of African Child College. I’d like to appreciate ISNAD-Africa and WWF for sponsoring us to solve one of the problems we identified in our community through production of solar reading lamps for me and my fellow students. I am very happy to be a member of a problem-solving club and I hope that we will continue with more Environmental Education Project that will help our communities. Thank you.





 

Fortune Idu

My name is Fortune Idu, I am the assistant club leader of Eco Heroes club, African Child College. I have learnt so much about my environment and climate change, as well developing ideas that can help solve problems in my environment. Thank you, ISNAD-Africa, and WWF, for sponsoring our project on the production of solar reading lamps, I am excited to be a part of it. Thank you. 

Orji Goodness

My name is Orji Goodness, I am a 17-year-old student at CAC secondary school Makurdi and the student project leader. I want to express my gratitude for all that we have been taught from the program by our Advisor and the EEP coordinator. With the knowledge gained so far, I now understand how best to take care of my environment. The program has opened me up to new challenges and better ways of navigating through them, I have gained critical thinking skills, how to manage risk and also work in a team. I want to thank ISNAD-AFRICA, WWF Sweden, and our Advisor Ms. Maureen Ferry Cuellar for all the support they have provided for us to work on our project to put forward a positive change in our community we are so happy about the impact our project is having on our audience so far and much more excited about the change it will grow into. 

Mbah Gabriel

My name is Mbah Gabriel, a student at CAC secondary school and team member of Environment Education Programme (EEP). I will like to express my delight towards our project BIONET, and appreciation to our advisor, my group and most especially to ISNAD Africa WWF Sweden for their support towards sponsoring EEP. For the success of our project (BIONET), we faced a lot of challenges including critical thinking, project exhibition, time management. At the course of our project exhibition, we visited our schoolteacher’s lodge to exhibit our project for their awareness and the tse kaave village to exhibit our project in many homes. With the feedback gotten so far, the community members said that BIONET is more reliable, simple and safe to use compared to their local jeopardized means of cooking and energy generating. I want to use this opportunity to thank Ms. Maureen Ferry for all her support towards encouraging and putting us through at the course of our project. And finally, thanks to ISNAD Africa and WWF Sweden for sponsoring EEP. 

Adaoluwa Ambassador 

Working on project Bionet flexi digester has been a great learning experience for me, I am proud to say that through this program I have started my journey of change making, my name is Adaoluwa Ambassador, and I am a ISNAD-Africa young change maker! 

Shapera Alfred 

This program has provided a great learning experience that has given me more insight on the problems affecting people around me and the environment. Working on our project exposed me deep into how being part of something positive just requires a little action and change will be achieved. Being a part of the team working on our project has exposed me to life in a new way, I now feel responsible for my actions because I know if I take the right action, it will create a positive change, I have gained numerous opportunities, skills, and knowledge but the most that excites me is how to think outside the box. My appreciation goes to my teachers, our advisor, ISNAD-Africa, and the WWF Sweden, you all are the best. Thank you so much. I am Shapera Alfred from Team Bionet Flexi digester, CAC secondary school Makurdi, Nigeria. bah 

Isen Nekesa 

My name is Isen Nekesa, a student at Nzoia Nursing College. “Many cultures around, believe that, if a snake touches your used sanitary pad, you’ll never get pregnant. Don’t touch pickles during your cycle; they’ll go bad. Don’t cook. Don’t enter your father’s room. Use a rug given to you especially for these days. If you don’t get your period, you’ll die”. 

Isen has heard every myth about menstruation. She is grateful to the project that is helping to try to stamp them out through mentorship and training. “I appreciate ISNAD–Africa and Lenana Girls High School for giving us the opportunity to bring the idea into life”. 

Evelyn Twili 

In eastern Kenya young women have very little knowledge about periods and there are many cultural misconceptions, like a belief that blood is bad and that if a dog finds a girl’s sanitary towel the girl will become barren. Some believe women should not cook or go into the town or city center while menstruating. There are poor bathroom facilities and many resort to unhygienic methods to manage their monthly cycle. Equipped with knowledge and skill from Lenana Girls High school, Evelyn Twili wishes to change this by going into the villages with other girls to produce sanitary pads in the most cost effective and environmentally friendly way. They also talk to boys and teachers about how they can support girls. Previously periods have been called ‘taboo’, but with the NALENA pad project it is becoming popular that menstruation is natural and important for childbirth. She is now looking to engage the wider community by running workshops for older people. 

Elizabeth Nekesa 

Elizabeth Nekesa hails from Mbai village, a rural village near the town of Kitale. She is a student at Lenana Girls High school and a member of the EEP project. She is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the project. 

When Nekesa got her first period, she didn’t know what was happening. “I thought I had been stabbed” she says, adding that when she found blood on her clothes, she was ashamed and afraid to go to school for fear of everyone laughing at her. This not uncommon in rural Kenya where menstruation is a taboo and not usually discussed. Fortunately for Nekesa, her Aunty Madam Tabitha, was understanding: “When Nekesa saw that she was bleeding, I told her that she did not have to worry and that it happened to every woman,” says Aunty Tabatha.   The reality for girls like Nekesa living in rural Kenya is that poverty often prevents them from purchasing sanitary pads and other items like new underwear.   “My parents have to sell a lot of maize to buy a month’s worth of sanitary towels, but if there is not enough money, I have to use rags,” she says.  Through Lenana Girls High school’s work to improve access to pads in villages, Nekesa is taking the lead and helping other girls in schools learn about menstrual health and gifting them with our eco-friendly and cost-effective pads. 

Everline Cherop 

When Everline Cherop, got her first period, she had no idea what it was and was afraid of seeing the blood.” I didn’t know how to use a pad so I used a scarf instead so others would not notice. I skipped school. My family didn’t notice anything.” At the time, Cherop’s community didn’t have access to clean water or toilets which meant that many girls stayed home from school every time they had their periods.   

“I was ashamed every time I had my period,” she says. “We had to go to the forest. I was afraid of snakes and of meeting other people.” Thanks to ISNAD-Africa and my schools for spearheading the process of helping girls and women access pads. My friends and I now go to school every time we have our periods.”  

Roseburg Gesare

“You are now a woman. If you talk to a boy when you are menstruating, you will get pregnant. This is what my grandmother told me when I had my first period and her words traumatized me,” says Roseburg Gesare. 

To date she still hear her grandmother’s words and uses them as inspiration to help dispel the misconceptions about menstruation in her community. As one of the project participants she educates and spreads awareness about menstrual health to other girls in schools.   

“I decided to break the taboo. I started with my friends because I used to see them suffer during their period, either because of the pain or because of the humiliation they experienced if they stained their clothing. Many of them did not use to come to school when they had their period,” says Gesare. 

Milka

“I have seen many girls with only one pair of pants, so if they have heavy menstruation and bleed through their clothes, they are forced to wash and put them on wet again,” says Milka. Besides providing pads, she hopes to find a way to help girls access more pants, keep them nice and dry. We are grateful to ISNAD- Africa for support. 

Rachael

We have Menstrual Hygiene Days in school monthly and we ask friends to support and to join us as we tackle period stigma by getting educated and talking openly about periods. 

“Through this day we have been raising some funds to get more pads out to women and girls in villages and schools”, say Rachael.  

Rebecca Ketero

 In the wake of the global health and economic crisis in the country, we at Lenana Girls High School are tirelessly working in communities around the region to distribute thousands of hygiene and menstruation pads to adolescent girls and women. “We are thankful for the support from ISNAD-Africa”. Says Rebecca Ketero. 

Purity Maina

I am Purity Maina, a student at Nova pioneer Tatu Girls. I appreciate that ISNAD Africa gave us an opportunity to devise a product that can actually sell in the market and also sensitize people from poor communities on the need to take clean drinking water. It was fun going out to the community and actually completing questionnaires and giving a presentation about our product. We are grateful to our school and teachers for the support. 

Angela

My name is Angela, a student at Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls. I want to take this opportunity to thank ISNAD-Africa for providing me and our school with an opportunity to showcase our skills in innovation and also to see how the less fortunate members of the community struggle to get adequate clean water. I would like to thank our school, Nova Pioneer, for the skills I have acquired in project management. 

Joy Karoki

My name is Joy Karoki, and I am in Form 3 at Nova Pioneer Tatu girls. I have walked this OASIS journey from start to finish and I would really like to appreciate the support that ISNAD-Africa have been providing us with skills, financial and interactive sessions that were really helpful. I will miss the zoom sessions as we were able to conference with people from outside our country. The opportunity has opened my feelings for conservation and waste management and would very much like to pursue conservation and recycling as a hobby in future. 

Zahra Odula

I am Zahra Odula and I couldn’t be more grateful to ISNAD-Africa for giving us the opportunity to help the various families that accepted the system we made. It brings me great relief and happiness that we were able to improve the families water consumption and hopefully their health. We may not have curbed the entire problem that affects people worldwide, but it is heartwarming to see that we added a drop. 

Rita Palmeris

My name is Rita Palmeris and I have a multitude of benefits that ISNAD-Africa has helped me realize. To begin with, it led me to enhance my teamwork skills and this is useful especially in the modern world where one has to learn to work together to realize goals and achieve greater milestones. I have also been able to improve my critical thinking skills whenever we encountered problems and a solution to counter it was urgently required. To be able to go out to the neighbouring community was an activity that truly recall all the years of my life as I got to interview the people and get their scope on their current situation and that greatly impacted me. Once again, I am truly grateful to ISNAD-Africa for opening such windows of opportunity for me.