Sustaining Agriculture sustains the Environment and sustains

Sustaining Agriculture sustains the Environment and sustains Life

My name is Kum Christian Tegha,

My work focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection for the benefit of indigenous people in rural communities. I sensitize the indigenous communities on the importance of conservation and the consequences of their activities on the natural ecosystems, capacity building on alternative livelihood activities and mainstream biodiversity conservation into ecotourism to serve as an income source for the indigenous people. I also research on sustainable innovative agricultural practices and share my discoveries with smallholder farmers through capacity-building seminars.

I together with some peers cofounded and registered the Sustainable Environment, Ecotourism, and Agricultural Development Organization (SEEADO) which is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organisation in Cameroon that works to promote sustainable environment and agriculture, and mainstream ecotourism into conservation for the benefit of people and biodiversity. SEEADO works with farmers in grassroots communities especially women, to raise awareness and promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, biodiversity conservation and environmental protection; and also, mainstream biodiversity conservation into ecotourism activities to improve the livelihood of indigenous people.

I have been accepted as a fellow at the Global Environments Summer Academy (GESA) 2024 hosted by the Global Diversity Foundation and the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute.

The Global Environments Summer Academy (GESA) is a three-month immersive fellowship for changemakers who are working to find durable solutions to complex planetary challenges.

The Fellowship will consist of 7 weekly online sessions (2 hours/week) starting on 17 June and ending on 29 July. In August, from 13 to 23 we will meet in person for a 5-day opening retreat in an idyllic rural setting, followed by a 5-day academy hosted by the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford. This blend of online collaboration and in-person engagement promises a holistic and enriching journey from June to August, fostering deep connections and impactful learning experiences." Please see GESA 2024 Brochure.

By being part of this fellowship, I will gain the knowledge, skills, competencies, and networks that I need to make a difference in my area of work. The GESA program is essential for training young change-makers as future leaders and professionals. I expect my participation in GESA 2024 will enhance my skills in communities and conservation LEADERSHIP for grassroots communities, transformational leadership in challenging times, mentoring, community organizing and engagement, effective proposal writing, fundraising, project management, conflict resolution & non-violent communication techniques, etc. to further support the farmer groups and networks with whom I work today, to invest skills acquired in their projects for the continuous improvement of environmental safety and community livelihood.

The full cost of the Academy is £2,500 ($3150). I have been awarded a bursary to participate but I still need to raise an additional $1005 to cover the rest of the fee and USD 1500 for my international travel from Cameroon to the UK and back. Cameroon a low-income country in the Central African Region, is currently under internal conflicts between anglophone separatist fighters and the government making it extremely difficult to raise money for this trip, so I need financial support to continue my training for the sake of environmental and social justice.

Can you help?