If I do not blog about this event, I will have done heavy injustice to the ‘Cool Green Campaign’. A noble cause for which my heart, skills and talent have been closely associated over the last 5 years. But what exactly is the Cool Green Campaign?
For starters, the Cool Green Campaign is a sustainable energy awareness initiative by Starehe Girls Centre (SGC) as part of its Zayed Sustainability Prize – Global High schools category project. The short or long story behind it is that in 2017, a team of 10 Physics and Geography students, together with 2 teachers and a team of technical and support staff put together an award winning project that would among others, allow the school to embark on a journey to become a self-sustaining institution in electricity consumption, environmental conservation, and championing for sustainable development goals. The Cool Green Campaign is a student-led initiative to showcase SGC’s ongoing green and sustainability efforts to local schools and its community. The aim is to inspire green transition through leading by example and being cool while at it. Because as we can all guess, students get intrigued by the cool stuff around them!
Originally the Cool Green Campaign Day, encompassing an Energy Challenge Quiz, a demonstrational learning tour and an experts exchange and learning sessions for local schools, was to take place at least 2.5 years ago. And then COVID happened. And schools were closed. And students stayed home for a rather long holiday. But the Campaign idea did not die. It lived on! Fast forward, the date is 30th July 2022, and the campaign finally comes alive! That we were excited to see the school’s effort finally become shareable for all to see and emulate is an understatement. For those who know me, quality education for young people is at the core of my heart. And so is the empowerment of young women to pursue STEM. But so is my zeal to see children – our students cease opportunities around them to be part of the global movement that is sustainable development. And there are many ways this can be done, from transition to green energy in powering institutional operations, to use of clean cooking technologies and fuels in kitchens, to basic energy management around buildings, to sustainable food production and on-site waste management. The list can go on and on. Its up to you to sit down, assessment the resources available around you and get moving.
Through one of the guest experts at the campaign, schools were enlightened on how to look at waste as a resource. Interrogations around maintaining a self-sustaining system also took centre stage. For me, it was rewarding to see high school students demonstrate their basic knowledge of what it means to go green, and the simple things they can do to act. It was as equally rewarding to see innovation demos that were at display – showcasing the immense potential that the sun has for schools. From solar driers to water heating, to water pumping, to general electricity supply. Really, the opportunities are limitless! I have worked in the sector long enough to assure you of the same.
As the Zayed Sustainability Prize project officially closes at Starehe Girls Centre, I look back with pride to have been part of this sustainability journey. For it has been a period of immense learning, challenges, and opportunities along the way. SGC is not yet there, even Rome was not built overnight. But where there is will, there is a way. Indeed, there is a role for schools to play in promoting green energy and sustainability. After all isn’t quality education all about inspiring our children to become innovative and provide solutions rather than wait for the society to do it?
To learn more about SGC’s ZSP project, or the impact. Visit below links
- The incredible impact of winning ZFEP on Starehe Girls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z9er7fbv6M
- Starehe Girls win global ‘going green’ award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiJeaC4HrYM&t=2s
