16 December, 2022, Nairobi. – UN-Habitat, University of the Fraser Valley, Mathare Environmental Conservation Youth Group, Mathare Roots and Queen Elizabeth Scholars came together to host a Green Christmas event in Mlango Kubwa-Mathare, Kenya. The event focused on empowering children and youth to make a positive impact on their community by recycling and upcycling waste products, thus promoting environmental conservation and sustainability. The event aligned with the 11th Sustainable Development Goal, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
The event was planned a week in advance, with members from different youth-led organizations coming together to brainstorm ideas. The main aim of the event was to provide children with a fun Christmas event, a delicious meal, and teach them about sustainable living through environmental conservation. The event began with children being shown an educative YouTube video, which detailed how Mathare youth took the lead in environmental conservation and set up the Mathare One Stop Youth Centre and the Soccer Pitch Ground.
The children were then divided into three workshops, where they learned about making creative artwork from waste products, recycling machines at the recycling workshop, and recording a Christmas song. The workshops were followed by a Christmas party, where children were served lunch and enjoyed face painting, balloon animals, and dance competitions.
The event was well-received by the children, who appreciated the opportunity to be creative and learn new skills. The event was a great success, and it is hoped that it will inspire more similar events in the future to promote sustainable living and environmental conservation in communities.
