KAREU MPYA CBO On Forefront To Mitigate Climate Change Through Training Women

By Isabella Maua

Women have been challenged to be at the forefront of mitigating climate change through entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and the use of clean energy.

While training women from different self-help groups within Mt. Elgon on Wednesday at Kapsokwony, in a meeting organized by the KAREU MPYA Community-Based Organization, Prof. Henry Bwisa divulged that there are many untapped resources that could change the climate change narrative.

“Women in this region have interest and an unquenched thirst for changing not only their lives but also restoring the lost glory of the beautiful Mt. Elgon forest, which is steadily depleting,” noted Prof. Bwisa.

Metrine Chebeni, a vegetable and fruit vendor at Kapsokwony, acknowledged the importance of the training, observing that she will share the knowledge with other women within her reach.

“I am a member of the Matendo Self-Help Group, and it’s been a privilege to learn that the kitchen waste we normally throw away can make quality organic manure while twigs and fallen leaves can be turned into safe, clean energy through making briquettes,” Chebeni noted.

Alice Wanjiku, a member of the Saisai Women Group from Kibuk, vowed to be an ambassador for championing the restoration of a clean environment through tree planting.

According to KAREU MPYA’s CEO, Emmanuel Masake, women are the best people who can preach against climate change and effectively reach the intended goal of restoring the immensely degraded forests and natural habitats within the once beautiful and attractive Mt. Elgon region.

The meeting, which was attended by over 100 women drawn from different wards across the sub county, also included professionals as well as young mothers who are deemed to have influence in society.

Lidya Cherui is a teacher in Elgon ward and accentuates the need for more training sessions among women in the quest to arm them with knowledge on adaptation and self-employment along the parameters of managing climate change.

“We have learned that in the process of embracing the reality of climate change, we can create opportunities through planting short-seasoned crops, increasing the shelf life of vegetables by drying them, and adding value to our crops through the groups we have,” highlighted Cherui.

She also challenged women who are either professionals or employed to ensure they have their own kitchen gardens where they use organic manure to foster a clean environment and strong soil structure where they live.

Conclusively, Masake divulged: “We are working in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and ACT! to ensure we are collaborating with environment champions from all women groups across this region.”

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Isabella Maua

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