Youth Environmental Network - Groups - Community

Details

Name: Youth Environmental Network
Website: http://www.eafrica.utande.co.zw
Categories: Environment
Education
Child & Youth Rights

Description:
The Victoria Falls Environmental Action Club is a group comprising of twenty young environmentalists between the ages of forteen and twenty-five. This group works under a Non-Governmental Regional Organization known as Environment Africa and was formed in July 2002 with a main aim of raising awareness on environmental issues. From its inception, we have embarked on many projects and have also participated in many environmental campaigns and commemorations for example World Water Day commemorations, National Tree Planting Days e.t.c. In 2005, the group in conjunction with its Environment Africa working hand-in-Hand with Hwange Colliery Company, managed to host the World Water Day commemorations (22nd of March and the first Global Youth Service Day commemorations in Victoria Falls and managed to gather more that two hundred youths in the commemorations. During the Global Youth Service Days (15 to 17 April 2005), the group together with other Victoria Falls youths managed to help with cleaning the Victoria Falls Hospital, The Victoria Falls Old People’s Home and the town centre. As a way of spreading the environmental gospel, we conduct some environmental / educational talks in schools and other learning institutions including colleges. Regards capacity building, environmental bush camps, work camps and field trips are conducted by the group members. The group has this year conducted two environmental work camps where we were involved in community work e.g. creating designs for the community’s resource centre, painting gum poles and clearing the community’s centre e.t.c. The group also embarks on four pilot projects:
1. Moringa Project
Moringa Oleifera is a type of tree which originated from India. It is best known for its ability to boost the immunity system in one’s body. The Victoria Falls Environmental Action Club adopted this project after its mother body, (Environment Africa) got into partnership with the Ministry of Health and agreed to plant Moringa trees so that they could give it to the under fives and other patients. The group decided to embark on this project with a main aim of assisting the old-aged and orphans in Victoria Falls. One hundred Moringa trees were planted at the Old People’s home and are being monitored by the group members who water and nurse the trees. Moringa leaves are now being harvested and pound into powder and will be donated to the Old People in Victoria Falls. The Moringa powder will be added into the old people and orphans’ meals everyday.
2. Vertiver Project
This project was initiated with a main aim of reducing the rapid formation of gulleys in Victoria Falls. Vertiver is
a type of grass best known for its ability to hold soils compact. We have now managed to establish three
Vertiver seed banks in Victoria Falls although the project is still in its preliminary stages. The Vertiver will also
be donated to schools and the Municipality for them to plant in areas where there are possibilities of gulley
formation in their respected places.
3. Masue River Project
In response to the United Nation’s declaration on year 2003 being an International year of freshwater, the Victoria Falls Environmental Club decided to adopt the Masue River, a river which is about ten kilometres away from the town’s business centre. We have managed to conduct some clean up exercises on this river which had turned into an eyesore. Clean up exercises are carried out once in every two months. The community and other youths are also being inspired by this initiative as we witnessed one youth and two kids who have joined us for the clean up exercises. The group will be conducting their next clean up exercise in July 2005.
4. Africa Environment Outlook – for-youth Project
The Africa Environment Outlook-for-youth project is an initiative of United Nations Environment Program. This initiative was made for African youths and was made by youths. It was felt that Youths are not having an opportunity of sharing their experiences thereby introducing the A.E.O-for-youth program. The Victoria Falls Environmental Club was selected to be Zimbabwe\\\'s National Focal Point (NFP). The main role of the NFPs is to collect contributions from different youth organizations, schools, colleges and training institutions to produce an AEO-for-Youth National report which is later on submitted to United Nations Environmental Program. After the AEO-for-Youth Report is compiled the editorial team meet and collect reports from other dimensions in Africa in order to compile the Global Environment Outlook report.

Apart from the pilot projects, the group is involved in lobbying and advocacy activities. The group managed to lobby the local authority to rehabilitate the gulley which was being formed in one of the town’s residential areas and also offered to assist with man-power if required. The group is also in its preliminary stages of lobbying the Victoria Falls Municipality to assist with registering Vic Falls as a Child Friendly City/Town and also to involve young people in decision-making. A visit to the Victoria Falls Executive Mayor was made and very soon Victoria Falls will be a Child Friendly Town

Send a message: vfeac@groups.takingitglobal.org
Subscribe: vfeac-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
Unsubscribe: vfeac-unsubscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org