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Writer's pictureNick Aduda

DUDUZ IN THE COMMUNITY: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION EXERCISES

Updated: Jul 14

WE LOVE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LED INITIATIVES WITH A KEEN EYE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN KENYA

Agroup of people taking a photo infront of a community dispensary
Members of Jericho Boxing club posing for a picture along with our C.E.O on the extreme right

Our C.E.O (extreme right in white shirt) alongside members of JERICHO BOXING CLUB


This past Tuesday we facilitated a clean-up exercise with one group that happens to be one of the beneficiaries of our Corporate Social Responsibility program aptly named HIGHER PURPOSE with the reason for the formation of this noble initiative being to uplift young men and women from less privileged areas with a keen focus on education and environmental conservation. For this exercise we worked with JERICHO BOXING CLUB (which operates as a community-led initiative) in their home area of Jericho Estate cleaning the area along Shule road and the nearby HONO CRESCENT DISPENSARY which happens to be a mother and child clinic.


A man cutting grass using a machete
It was all hands on board during the clean up exercise

(It was all hands on deck for this exercise even getting our C.E.O to get busy with whatever was available to clear the lawn!)


Jericho happens to be historically, one of the toughest neighborhoods in all of Nairobi having garnered a reputation of being a crime hotspot having produced countless renowned criminals with the most prominent one being EDWARD MAINA SHIMOLI who was charged with 14 murders and 88 cases of rape and had multiple times escaped escaped from police dragnets. He had managed to escape from prison on four different occasions with one scenario having him rescued from incarceration by some of his gang members from Kenyatta National Hospital then engaged in multiple shootouts with the police with one government official having said that "no Kenyan prison has ever held such a dangerous man". This is the environment that these young men come from and as a socially responsible company we are obliged to play a part, however small, in making sure that these boys turn out to be responsible members of society as they grow into adulthood. Given the notorious environment that these boys come from makes it clear that our partnership with Jericho boxing club extends far beyond our original agenda and some of the reasons why we chose to go for a Community clean-up exercise was because:


  1. Sense of Responsibility: By actively taking part in cleaning up their community our young boys learn to take responsibility for their surroundings while adopting sustainable practices. They understand that they play a role in maintaining cleanliness and order in their neighborhood as they grow up to be leaders in their community in the near future.

  2. Respect for the Environment: Engaging in clean-up activities helps our boys develop a deeper respect for the environment as they get to witness firsthand the impact of littering and pollution on the natural world, which encourages them to be more mindful of their actions and their effects on the planet while at the same time being active on the ecological restoration front.

  3. Teamwork and Collaboration: Clean-up exercises bring about community engagement as they often involve working alongside neighbors and other volunteers thus bringing about local empowerment as the community comes to learn that they can bring about change by themselves as opposed to relying on external actors. Through teamwork and collaboration, the boys learn important social skills such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. These experiences contribute to their ability to work effectively with others in various contexts.

  4. Physical Activity: Clean-up activities typically require physical effort, such as picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks, or planting trees. Participating in these activities helps boys stay physically active thus promoting a healthy lifestyle which we really advocate for.

  5. Pride in Their Community: Contributing to the cleanliness and beautification of their neighborhood instills a sense of pride and holistic development in these young boys. They develop a connection to their community and feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for its well-being.

  6. Environmental Awareness: Through community clean-up exercises, boys become more aware of environmental issues and the importance of sustainable practices such as avoiding littering. They learn about recycling, proper waste disposal and conservation efforts which can inspire them to adopt eco-friendly behaviors in their daily lives and in the end bring about countless socio-economic benefits.

  7. Leadership Development: As these boys become more involved in community clean-up initiatives, boys have the opportunity to take on environmental steward leadership roles. Whether it's in organizing events, delegating tasks or motivating others to participate, these experiences help them develop leadership skills that will benefit them in various aspects of their lives.


men cleaning up a street
The boys busy at work cleaning the street

LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP

Growing up in the Eastlands area of NAIROBI happens to be quite a tough experience as this happens to be a low income area and most families struggle to have regular meals in their respective households. These conditions provide a rife environment for creating delinquent youths that later down the road get to engage in crime and other nefarious activities and herein comes Jericho Boxing Club. This boxing club plays a vital role in the community withregards to teaching the young men and women discipline through sport thereby diverting their attention from crime and building a possible career in boxing but most importantly showing the value of school as education happens to be one of the areas that we champion for the most as partners to the boxing club as we are quite active when it comes to SPONSOR A BOXER'S EDUCATION. Equally important is the mentorship programme with the aim of raising their perspective in life and pushing them to become the best that they could be.


A group of boys posing for a photo
The group posing for a photo

It was quite a beautiful sunny day to have the boys come out and see them active in their community owning the space that they live in. Not only was the work well done but also a lot of smiles and laughs were shared while working which aligns perfectly with the values that we stand for as a private entity.


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