ADOPT A RIVER
Donation protected
Adopt A River: A Climate Justice Initiative
Dear Gofundme community,
My name is Larry Dwayne, and I am a musician and an environmental activist raising awareness on the importance of having clean Rivers and maintaining sustainability through community initiatives. Through this petition, on behalf of a team of volunteers, I ask for your help to clean the polluted river “Nyamasaria”, located in the Kisumu County in Kenya. The initiative seeks to restore a fundamental waterbody through youth cooperation. This will be done while disseminating information on the concept of sustainability amongst educational institutions and engaging the youth in entrepreneurship trainings. Recently, my efforts received global recognition when my song on conservation of water bodies received the 2020 “Euro-Fishion” award in Europe. Today, I hope this petition can be equally successful and provide for local villagers, fish and aquatic organisms living close or in the waters of the Nyamasaria river, a better life.
Where and Why?
Lake Victoria is the world's largest freshwater lake, second only to Lake Superior in North America. The lake supports close to one third of the total population of Kenya in the form of freshwater which is vital for good health, food, hygiene and energy production. It also promotes interaction between rural and urban communities, increasing financial profits of local villagers, fishermen and other industries dependent on the lake’s resources.
One of the major urban centres located along Lake Victoria is Kisumu, a county where only 8% of the rural population is estimated to have access to safe water (LBDA, 2004). There, the Nyamasaria River, one of Lake Victoria’s main tributaries, is already a part of the county’s polluted waters. Such pollution affects not only the water flow of the river but also the surrounding wetland areas where the process of water purification is being disrupted.
In particular, pollution stems from the widespread and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in open places, streets and public markets, as well as from the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the limited capacity of the Municipal Authorities, who collect less than 5% of household waste (UN-HABITAT), is also an impediment to maintain rivers clean. According to a report published by the National Environment Management Authority, such pollution is especially acute in Kisumu, again where the Nyamasaria River is located. This is due to the city’s geographical location on a gulf, which increases the reception of pollutants unable to disperse because of limited wave action (The Standard, 2020).
Pollution in the Nyamasaria River is indeed a great danger for living species in close contact with the water, including humans, and of course for those living in it. Fish stocks have decreased to a point that are almost non-existent and their migration between the river and Lake Victoria has accordingly greatly diminished. More evidently, the river’s normal flow has been impeded and water clarity has been contaminated by chemical agents. As a consequence of solid waste, water has become toxic for domestic use and is now inhabitable to microorganisms and other aquatic organisms.
The affluent’s pollution, has inevitably contributed to polluting Lake Victoria, the consequences of which have been pointed out by the United Nations Environment Programme. First, the depletion of small fish in the lake, has led to malnutrition of local villagers who traditionally meet their dietary requirements by depending on them. Second, pollution has caused a spread of diseases mainly influenced by scarcity of clean water. These include cholera, bilharzia, typhoid, dysentery, and certain intestinal parasites. Finally, pollution puts at risk the lake’s multi-billion fish industry, which might leave thousands of people jobless if the situation is left unresolved.
Our solution derives from restoring Lake Victoria’s main affluents, one of those being the Nyamasaria River, also an essential natural resource in itself for the Kisumu County.
Who and How?
Five years ago, the environmental degradation of Nyamasaria River was protested by local villagers in Kisumu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEfxgcs1MLk). However, and as one can judge by the pictures attached to the present petition, pollution has not only remained but worsen. It is for that reason, that we demand your help for this project that will run for a period of one year, starting from July 2021 to July 2022. Adopt A River would be organized by a team of volunteers, experts, researchers, and other local artists concerned about environmental degradation. It will also count on the support of the World Fish Migration Foundation.
The project is to deal first and foremost with the restoration of the Nyamasaria River and the surrounding wetlands which will be attained through a clean-up and afforestation. The activities will be carried out by the local community of Kisumu, in particular the youth. For that purpose, their ideas on sustainability will be promoted through educational talks and entrepreneurship trainings with the hope to create agents of change. The youth will work closely with the relevant government departments, academic institutions, school environmental clubs and the other community members to restore the river and attain environmental sustainability in the Kisumu county.
Values
It is our belief that incorporating the local villagers of Kisumu will lead them to consider Adopt A River as their own initiative. Such a bottom-up approach is to ensure not only the continuity of the project, but it also embraces the principles on climate justice as stated by the Mary Robinson Foundation. Particularly, a gender and human rights-lens will be adopted throughout the design of the project’s strategy as well as in the implementation of all activities. All in all, this perspective will ensure that decisions are participatory, transparent and accountable, and that support to the right to development is equally provided to the community of Kisumu.
The funds
Based on the knowledge and expertise of the above mentioned volunteers, a project proposal and a budget has been agreed that amounts to 5.972.000 Kenyan Shillings, that is, 45.000 euros. Amongst others, the funds will be used for:
• Recruiting project coordinators and project managers.
• Planning and conducting dialogue sessions and workshops.
• Mobilization of youth groups and their training.
• Development of the river restoration strategy and its implementation. This strategy will be developed through a gender and human rights lens.
• Catering for equipment.
• Monitoring the quality of the river discharge under the guidance of ward administrators and other relevant government officers.
• Creation of social enterprises, advocacy.
• Informative sessions on environmental sustainability in schools targeting younger kids.
• Production of audio and visual music albums to inform on the importance of environmental conservation while highlighting the importance of art, music and culture.
Thank you!
If you are also passionate about protecting a healthy environment or want to promote development in the poorest communities through an environmental strategy that is gender sensitive and defends human rights, we invite you to contribute to Adopt A River. Excited as we are to get started and make a change, we cannot be but grateful for your time and support. With it, us volunteers will make sure that the project's expectations are met and dignity of the Kisumu community is restored.
Dear Gofundme community,
My name is Larry Dwayne, and I am a musician and an environmental activist raising awareness on the importance of having clean Rivers and maintaining sustainability through community initiatives. Through this petition, on behalf of a team of volunteers, I ask for your help to clean the polluted river “Nyamasaria”, located in the Kisumu County in Kenya. The initiative seeks to restore a fundamental waterbody through youth cooperation. This will be done while disseminating information on the concept of sustainability amongst educational institutions and engaging the youth in entrepreneurship trainings. Recently, my efforts received global recognition when my song on conservation of water bodies received the 2020 “Euro-Fishion” award in Europe. Today, I hope this petition can be equally successful and provide for local villagers, fish and aquatic organisms living close or in the waters of the Nyamasaria river, a better life.
Where and Why?
Lake Victoria is the world's largest freshwater lake, second only to Lake Superior in North America. The lake supports close to one third of the total population of Kenya in the form of freshwater which is vital for good health, food, hygiene and energy production. It also promotes interaction between rural and urban communities, increasing financial profits of local villagers, fishermen and other industries dependent on the lake’s resources.
One of the major urban centres located along Lake Victoria is Kisumu, a county where only 8% of the rural population is estimated to have access to safe water (LBDA, 2004). There, the Nyamasaria River, one of Lake Victoria’s main tributaries, is already a part of the county’s polluted waters. Such pollution affects not only the water flow of the river but also the surrounding wetland areas where the process of water purification is being disrupted.
In particular, pollution stems from the widespread and indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in open places, streets and public markets, as well as from the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the limited capacity of the Municipal Authorities, who collect less than 5% of household waste (UN-HABITAT), is also an impediment to maintain rivers clean. According to a report published by the National Environment Management Authority, such pollution is especially acute in Kisumu, again where the Nyamasaria River is located. This is due to the city’s geographical location on a gulf, which increases the reception of pollutants unable to disperse because of limited wave action (The Standard, 2020).
Pollution in the Nyamasaria River is indeed a great danger for living species in close contact with the water, including humans, and of course for those living in it. Fish stocks have decreased to a point that are almost non-existent and their migration between the river and Lake Victoria has accordingly greatly diminished. More evidently, the river’s normal flow has been impeded and water clarity has been contaminated by chemical agents. As a consequence of solid waste, water has become toxic for domestic use and is now inhabitable to microorganisms and other aquatic organisms.
The affluent’s pollution, has inevitably contributed to polluting Lake Victoria, the consequences of which have been pointed out by the United Nations Environment Programme. First, the depletion of small fish in the lake, has led to malnutrition of local villagers who traditionally meet their dietary requirements by depending on them. Second, pollution has caused a spread of diseases mainly influenced by scarcity of clean water. These include cholera, bilharzia, typhoid, dysentery, and certain intestinal parasites. Finally, pollution puts at risk the lake’s multi-billion fish industry, which might leave thousands of people jobless if the situation is left unresolved.
Our solution derives from restoring Lake Victoria’s main affluents, one of those being the Nyamasaria River, also an essential natural resource in itself for the Kisumu County.
Who and How?
Five years ago, the environmental degradation of Nyamasaria River was protested by local villagers in Kisumu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEfxgcs1MLk). However, and as one can judge by the pictures attached to the present petition, pollution has not only remained but worsen. It is for that reason, that we demand your help for this project that will run for a period of one year, starting from July 2021 to July 2022. Adopt A River would be organized by a team of volunteers, experts, researchers, and other local artists concerned about environmental degradation. It will also count on the support of the World Fish Migration Foundation.
The project is to deal first and foremost with the restoration of the Nyamasaria River and the surrounding wetlands which will be attained through a clean-up and afforestation. The activities will be carried out by the local community of Kisumu, in particular the youth. For that purpose, their ideas on sustainability will be promoted through educational talks and entrepreneurship trainings with the hope to create agents of change. The youth will work closely with the relevant government departments, academic institutions, school environmental clubs and the other community members to restore the river and attain environmental sustainability in the Kisumu county.
Values
It is our belief that incorporating the local villagers of Kisumu will lead them to consider Adopt A River as their own initiative. Such a bottom-up approach is to ensure not only the continuity of the project, but it also embraces the principles on climate justice as stated by the Mary Robinson Foundation. Particularly, a gender and human rights-lens will be adopted throughout the design of the project’s strategy as well as in the implementation of all activities. All in all, this perspective will ensure that decisions are participatory, transparent and accountable, and that support to the right to development is equally provided to the community of Kisumu.
The funds
Based on the knowledge and expertise of the above mentioned volunteers, a project proposal and a budget has been agreed that amounts to 5.972.000 Kenyan Shillings, that is, 45.000 euros. Amongst others, the funds will be used for:
• Recruiting project coordinators and project managers.
• Planning and conducting dialogue sessions and workshops.
• Mobilization of youth groups and their training.
• Development of the river restoration strategy and its implementation. This strategy will be developed through a gender and human rights lens.
• Catering for equipment.
• Monitoring the quality of the river discharge under the guidance of ward administrators and other relevant government officers.
• Creation of social enterprises, advocacy.
• Informative sessions on environmental sustainability in schools targeting younger kids.
• Production of audio and visual music albums to inform on the importance of environmental conservation while highlighting the importance of art, music and culture.
Thank you!
If you are also passionate about protecting a healthy environment or want to promote development in the poorest communities through an environmental strategy that is gender sensitive and defends human rights, we invite you to contribute to Adopt A River. Excited as we are to get started and make a change, we cannot be but grateful for your time and support. With it, us volunteers will make sure that the project's expectations are met and dignity of the Kisumu community is restored.
Fundraising team: Team Ecological justice. (3)
Larry Dwayne
Organizer
Sant Joan d'Alacant, VC
Elisha Ouko
Beneficiary
Irene Pamblanco
Team member
Collins Obura
Team member