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The Environment: our responsibility and source of livelihood

27 February 2008

The Environment, Our Future

The Commonwealth Youth Programme Africa Centre launched into this year's Commonwealth Week celebration with an alluring three-prong programme in Zambia - the Environment tour.

After an intensive week of capacity building sessions for members of the Regional Youth Caucus at the Africa Centre, there was no better way that to tickle the practical minds of participants with a one-day study tour of a community youth enterprise project that combines the benefits of protecting the environment and the principles of business management and self help in a flawless seam.

Kalingalinga Solid Waste Company (KSWC) a 16 staff, 4 directors CBE, was started 5 years ago through the inspiration and determination of youths in the community to protect the community while sustaining themselves. The company now employs not only youths to administer their offices, but several mid and late adults to assist in several functions such as waste collection, community education, debt collection and administration.

"As far as environment is concerned, solid waste management is crucial" - Mr Kawoma, the administrator sums up their underling value in this statement that sent sighs of concurrence among participants on the tour. He further justifies the the need for the social-entrepreneurial approach to waste management saying, "while volunteer waste management (through CBOs) have failed, the introduction of the Community Base Enterprise (CBE) system has made waste management an attractive venture even for youths". With the company currently serving only 20% of its targeted 25,000 inhabitants of the community spread across 4,500 household, KSWC says they are breaking even with profits hovering at the brink of the near future.

According to Mr Godwin Muenda, Supervisor, stigmatisation (the job being dirty/unpleasant), the fact the people don't see why they should pay for waste disposal and the task of maintaining the health of workers, are numerous challenges facing any waste management company including KSWC. The project is also faced with a challenge of limited and late payment of subscriptions as well as residents who prefer to dump waste in the night in undesignated places. To counter this, KSWMC is also involved in school outreach programmes to sensitise young people on the importance of keeping a clean environment and encouraging the involvement of young people in the management of waste. "It is important that the youth get involved in waste management since everybody generates an amount of waste" - Mr Muenda.

Earlier in the day, Head of Lusaka Waste Management Unit, Mr. Michael K. Kabungo made a presentation to the RYC members on 'youth and the environment and waste management' giving an in depth analysis of Lusaka Waste Management processes noting that waste should act as a means of benefit and not necessarily as dirt.

In this quest, Lusaka Waste Management Strategic Decision was made to conceptualize private sector involvement in the Micro Solid Waste Management Enterprise Sector (MSWME). This resulted in the establishment of Micro Solid Waste Management (MSWM) projects which are managed within different communities. He also stated the hierarchy of solid waste management as first being avoidance and reduction of waste, waste re-use and recycling and finally disposal. He further urged young people to participate in the Community Base Enterprises (CBE) as they really seem to stigmatise the job upon forgetting the maximum benefits it yields as a means of livelihood.

Infotainment Movement, a youth led group based in Lusaka, also shared concepts on the environment, its importance on our daily life as well as the role of the community in ensuring environmental sustainability.

The session was also graced with a theme presentation by the 'Big Five Anointed' singers, a group of five young boys who are talented in singing. Their song 'clean city' conveys a very clear message on environmental management. There was also a presentation in painting facilitated by an artist; Fred Hibajane. Through the painting, he presented the effects of human activities on environment.