October 6, Nairobi Kenya: The Global Peace Foundation took part in the 2nd National Youth Green Growth Summit 2015 that was held at Multimedia University from 5th – 9th October. Held under the theme “Youth as Active Partners to Drive the Green Growth Agenda in Kenya” the summit brought youth representatives from the 47 counties to deliberate on the role of young people in driving the green growth agenda.
In line with the summit’s theme, Raslimali Enterprises Ltd, a development partner of Global Peace Foundation showcased the Community Cooker Project that turns waste into resources as a best practice to drive the green growth agenda in Kenya. The project is an idea owned by 11 youth groups from Kariobangi who form Raslimali Enterprises Ltd.
Kariobangi being an informal settlement with huge population and many activities, it produces a lot of waste which represent an environment and health hazard. The community cooker project brings in a profound impact on the lives of the settlement’s inhabitants by recycling solid waste to a form of energy that can be used for cooking and heating water. It comprises a community cooker, sanitation block and a resource centre.
Speaking at the summit, the CEO of Raslimali Enterprises Ltd. Mr. Erick Ravoga inspired other youth to implement the project in their counties as an income generating activity to improving their livelihoods and transform their communities.
“We started Raslimali Enterprises by bringing together 11 youth groups who manage waste in Kariobangi. Through our partnership with Global Peace Foundation we managed to bring on board other organizations including Safaricom Foundation, Chandaria Foundation and EABL Foundation among others who gave us KES 5,000,000 to set up a community cooker. Now the company is worth KES 10 million and in five years’ time we shall replicate the same model in another area.” Said Mr. Ravoga, Raslimali Enterprises Ltd.
Cook N’ Lite Ltd which has also partnered with Global Peace Foundation presented the SIMBA solar lantern to Ms. Judith Wakhungu, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Water and Natural Resources on the last day of the summit as a best practise to drive the green growth agenda in Kenya. She showed interest in the idea as a way of improving livelihoods in low income families and promised to bring in other stakeholders to support it.
The solar lantern is an improvement of the hurricane lantern, which uses kerosene for lighting. This poses threat to human health as it causes indoor air pollution through the emission of health hazardous carbon monoxide and other gases.
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