This project, Hadithi+, addresses majorly the Sustainable Development Goal no.13 – Climate action. Hadithi is a Swahili word meaning ‘story’, we are telling the story of sustainable climate actions through creative art. It aims at creating awareness and sensitization among the children and young people on matters regarding climate change. Climate change poses great danger to the future generation which comprises of this group. We cannot address it without having them on the table. They need to be vigilant on their everyday actions and those of people around them. Sustainability ought to be part of everything we do.
Hadithi is spearheaded through the use of creative arts such as pictures, videos and literary work. The items created are meant to primarily entertain the target group as well as passing relevant information on various sustainability practices. For instance, through the use of a creative story, we are able to address cases of deforestation, show its effects and creatively provide possible corrective mechanisms. Multimedia content, design and level of creativity depends on the target age group.
Additionally, we are conducting physical awareness and sensitization programs in primary and secondary schools. These programs involve educative sessions on the challenge in question and how to address them through our actions and also other sustainable solutions. Apart from schools, we are involving local communities where we educate them on Sustainable Development Goals and guide them on the recommendable actions to be taken.
Every engagement is accompanied by a project which could be a tree planting or even a waste collection and reduction exercise. Through this, we have and will be able to ensure that every community member is behind the wheel in driving the climate change action in their little big actions. Also, we are able to revisit the projects, check on the progress and the behavioural change of the target group if any. Progress record of sensitized groups is recorded and analyzed for appreciation, improvement and correction of any possible deviations.
We want to change our mindsets and perceptive on various issues surrounding our local and global communities. Climate Change Crisis has resulted to excessive heating, long dry periods which have seen most countries such as my country Kenya declaring drought as a natural disaster. This is a wake-up call to action.