Rift Valley Academy - Greening of Kijabe

Greening of Kijabe

RVA students used to be able to hike through dense tropical forest above the campus on their way to a series of waterfalls. On the way they could observe amazing African plants and animals. Unfortunately, those experiences are becoming a thing of the past. We are in a battle to preserve the last vestiges of our surrounding indigenous forest and included biodiversity. We are also coming to grips as an institution with responsible stewardship of our resources.

On Campus:

1) RVA is beginning to separate its wastes and compost the organics. We are investigating ways to recycle plastics, metals and glass.
2) We are exploring the use of alternate energy systems such as biogas.
3) We are increasing the biodiversity on campus through intentional planting of indigenous trees as well as seeking to become self-sufficient in terms of fuel woods by planting areas of plantation trees on campus.
4) We have hosted one seminar for our national staff on how to reduce the amount of fuel they use when cooking.
5) We have plans to install water meters at RVA in order to be more responsible about our water usage.

Within the Community:

1) We have continued to plant or facilitate planting in the community and in the forest.
2) There is a community based Environment Committee with an RVA representative that is seeking to reverse forest destruction through community education, tree planting and appropriate government and NGO assistance.
3) This committee has hosted a Creation Care seminar put on by Craig Sorley (RVA) and his associate Francis and has plans to host other seminars in surrounding communities.
4) The committee has restarted work on the community plantation which is below the RVA garbage dump. This involves recycling the hospital black water, strategic pruning and further planting. The plantation has become viewed as a park to Kijabe residents so it strategic for teaching about environmental stewardship. The church has hired a plantation guard to work there.
5) The station management has forest guards in place but they are quite limited by lack of resources at present.

ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES COME AT A COST. RVA BUDGETS FOR MUCH OF IT’S ON CAMPUS ACTIVITIES. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD ESPECIALLY ASSIST THE COMMUNITY ENDEAVOURS.

PROJECT TARGET : US :$10,000

A link for contributing to this project will be provided soon.