LCMC Launches Environmental Advocacy for Children in Nairobi
By Ms. Teresia Muia
“Life is not always about ourselves but what we can do for others. Every child deserves a safe environment, but most importantly, they have a responsibility to take care of it,” said Bishop Stephan Turnovszky, Auxiliary Bishop of Vienna, Austria, during a grand official launch of a Children’s Environmental Advocacy Campaign on February 22, 2025. The event, held by the Loyola Centre for Media and Communications (LCMC) at Mukuru Promotional Centre in Nairobi, was a fantastic move towards empowering children as environmental advocates.
The occasion brought together key stakeholders including donors from DKA Austria, environmental stakeholders from the Nairobi County Government, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (KCCB) Commission of Education and Religious Education (CERE), Africa Climate Peace and Security Solutions (ACPSS), among others. Their presence was an indication of a keen interest to promote the advocacy of children’s rights to the environment and empowerment of youths as agents of defining the future of the planet.
During the event, speakers called for environmental action and the role children play in claiming their rights. Some of the key topics featured in the discussions included waste management and sustainable living, the connection between the UNGC26 and Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical, the challenges the children have in being heard, and the efforts the government makes to save them from environmental hazards. Children also shared their own experiences, reinforcing the campaign’s goal of amplifying young voices in environmental advocacy.
The day ended in a clean-up activity and an educational tour of the Mukuru dumpsite, where children and participants were taken through sustainable waste management, waste segregation, types of waste, and waste disposal challenges. The practical exercise enabled the children to witness firsthand the effects of mismanagement of waste and the need for responsible environmental management.
The launching of this campaign was a big step towards the accomplishment of LCMC’s children’s environmental rights project and the start of its sustained advocacy efforts.
