Summary
The First Lady’s Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) represent a significant step in Kenya’s fight against climate change. Recognizing that young people are crucial agents of change, FLAMA leverages creative engagement to foster environmental responsibility and action amongst the nation’s learners. Launched during the 2023 Africa Climate Summit, this national award scheme targets primary and secondary school students across Kenya.
Background
Young people are crucial in combatting the climate crisis, yet they often lack platforms to express their viewpoints. Empowering the next generation through comprehensive climate education is vital for instilling a deep understanding of climate change’s impacts and fostering proactive climate action. Equipped with this knowledge, youths can emerge as change catalysts, armed with innovative strategies to address environmental challenges and inequalities, particularly affecting women and girls during climate crises.
Globally, education plays a pivotal role in advancing climate action, as emphasized by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Climate Agreement. The Action for Climate Empowerment framework underscores the need for broad societal engagement, especially among young people, to transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient world. In Kenya, significant strides have been taken to cultivate a climate-conscious youth population through policies like the Climate Change Act of 2016 and initiatives promoting awareness and engagement in environmental issues.
Introduction
First Lady’s Mazingira Awards is a learner centered national annual environment & climate change competition rolled out in collaboration with Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry and other stakeholders including; National Treasury (Financing Locally Led Climate Action– FLLoCA), UNCC:Learn Teachers Service Commission(TSC), Kenya Primary School Headteachers Association(KEPSHA), Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association(KESSHA), Kenya National Union of Teacher(KNUT), Wavumbuzi among others
The First Lady Environment Awards (FLAMA)
Goal
To raise environmentally responsible citizens by nurturing the creative skills of learners through expressing their perceptions and actions towards addressing climate change
Objectives
- To nurture and empower learners as agents of change for environmental conservation and climate action
- To promote an environment centered entrepreneurship culture among learners
- To positively contribute to the national goal to plant 15 Billion trees in the next 10 years
Target Area & Beneficiaries
The First Lady Mazingira Awards targets over 17 million young learners including Special Need Learners in over 89,000 public and private primary and secondary schools across all 47 counties in Kenya.
Challenge Launch
The Challenge was Launched in September 2023 during the inaugural Africa Climate Summit presided over by Her Excellency the First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto.
Challenge Categories
The Challenge categories include various forms of creative expression such as; painting, drawing, essay writing (English and Swahili), poetry, spoken word, photography, recycled art among others. In future challenges the category scope will be expanded to include more forms of creative expression. In addition, the Challenge is synchronised with the annual school calendar.
Throughout the Challenge, there is awareness creation on environmental conservation such as reading eco books and opportunities for tree growing to contribute to meeting Kenya’s national tree growing target of 15 billion trees by 2032.
At the end of the Challenge period, all learners receive recognition for participation. The winners in the various categories receive awards at the national award ceremony. In future, we envision the top winners in each category to attend the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP) meetings to amplify the voices of children in climate action and negotiations.
Delivery
The First Lady Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) has a Council, technical working group and a dedicated Secretariat with support from the relevant line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The Technical working group works with a Secretariat made up of a core team of technical experts to design, develop and deliver the Challenge. The Core Team incorporate relevant experts as and when the need arises.
The FLAMA Technical working group has representation from MaMa Doing Good – Directorate of Environment and Climate Action, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry – Directorates of Climate Change and Environmental Education and the Ministry of Education – Directorates of Quality Control and Field and Co curricula Activities and other relevant offices are co-opted on a need basis. The FLAMA Secretariat is involved in the day to day running and implementation of the Challenge.
From Submissions to Celebration:
In 2024, the process began with a learner-centered competition through creative expression focusing on the theme Restore our Land, Secure our Future. The challenge run from March to July, 2024 where schools were participating and submitting their entries through an online portal. Following the submission period, a rigorous judging process took place. A dedicated FLAMA Judgement and Selection of Winners Workshop, held from September 30th to October 2nd, 2024, at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), brought together over 40 subject matter experts and educators. They evaluated entries based on creativity, relevance, and impact in addressing environmental and climate challenges.
The culmination of the program was the prestigious First Lady’s Mazingira Awards Ceremony, held at the State House Pavilion, Nairobi, on October 10th, 2024. Over 250 learners, 100 teachers, and 200 guests attended, including Her Excellency Mama Rachel Ruto. Sixty learners (including 10 with special needs), 20 teachers, and 20 schools were recognized for their outstanding contributions. The ceremony highlighted the participation of over 1000 schools, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity.
Beyond the Ceremony: Continued Learning:
The commitment to environmental education extended beyond the awards ceremony. On October 11th, 2024, an eco-educational trip to Nairobi National Park was organized for the winners and their teachers, led by Her Excellency Mama Rachel Ruto. This immersive experience provided further learning opportunities and reinforced the importance of environmental conservation.
The First Lady’s Mazingira Awards stand as a testament to Kenya’s commitment to fostering environmental stewardship amongst its youth. By engaging learners creatively and practically, FLAMA is not just recognizing achievement but actively shaping a generation of environmentally responsible citizens.
Future Prospects and Sustainability
To ensure the sustainability and future growth of the First Lady’s Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) is vital for its enduring impact in Kenya, the program must be seamlessly integrated into the school calendar. This integration will foster regular engagement and participation nationwide, reinforcing the awards’ significance within the educational framework. Key to this process is the institutionalization of FLAMA, which involves transitioning its administration to a relevant ministry and building strategic partnerships with various stakeholders.
Empowering the award winners is also essential for ensuring the program’s lasting influence. Initiatives such as mentorship and entrepreneurship programs, along with opportunities to monetize their creative works, are crucial for fostering sustainability among participants. Furthermore, establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms will facilitate continuous improvement, while exploring potential regional expansion opportunities can enhance the program’s impact and reach, showcasing Kenya’s leadership in environmental education.
For more information visit https://flama.go.ke/
Written By
Arnold Kipchumba, Director, Environment and Climate Action, MaMa Doing Good
