The First Lady’s Mazingira* Awards (FLAMA) is a learner-centered national annual environment and climate change competition rolled out in collaboration with Ministries of Education, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, The National Treasury and other stakeholders in Kenya. (*Mazingira is a Swahili word meaning environment)
FLAMA targets Kenya’s 89,000 primary and secondary schools and 18 million learners including special need learners.
FLAMAs tagline is Mazingira Yetu, Jukumu Letu (Our Environment, Our Responsibility) and provides a platform for learners to creatively express their understanding and solutions for environmental and climate challenges through art, essay writing and spoken word thus equipping and empowering them to become environmentally conscious and climate ready citizens.
The Mazingira Awards empowers learners with knowledge and skills and recognizes and awards outstanding environmental conservation and climate action efforts undertaken by learners and schools across Kenya. The awards contribute to integrating climate change into the education curriculum as stipulated in the Climate Change Act 2010 by identifying gaps. This is through the technical officers who are represented in the Technical Working Group that plan and implement the Awards such as the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development.
In addition to learning through creative expression, learners in participating schools implement practical eco-friendly practices such as tree growing, water conservation and sustainable waste management contribute to building more sustainable green schools.
The impact will be measured through various indicators such as; number of participating learners and schools, number of trees planted, energy savings achieved, water conservation measures implemented and feedback and testimonials from learners, teachers, and communities. Additionally, the transformed attitudes and behaviors of learners towards environmental sustainability will serve as tangible evidence of the program's impact.
Overall, the First Lady's Mazingira Awards will have a far-reaching impact, empowering learners and teachers, fostering environmental stewardship, and driving progress towards the achievement of multiple SDGs related to education, climate action, water, sanitation and clean energy among others.
Studies have shown that art and other forms of creative expression such as writing, spoken word and photography can serve as effective ways to introduce and engage young learners to environmental issues and expand their awareness, interest and engagement in environment and climate change issues.
Environmental themed challenges like FLAMA provides an innovative approach for learners to present their understanding, interpretation and solutions around a topical issue. This gives them a unique platform to think, creatively and artistically express themselves through art, writing and storytelling.
Every year the FLAMA theme will align, make reference to and focus on global and national environmental and climate change discourse allowing learners to creatively express their understanding of global issues and provide local contextualized solutions.
In 2024, FLAMA adopts and aligns with the World Environment Day theme for 2024; “Accelerating Land Restoration, Addressing Desertification and Drought Resilience”. In this regard, the FLAMA theme is; “Restore our Land, Secure our Future” / “Turejeshe Ardhi Yetu; Tuhakikishe Mustakabali Wetu”
Learners are encouraged to explore the concept of ecosystem restoration, climate action and sustainable practices in their submissions and the best art, essays and spoken word with practical ideas will be selected as winners.
FLAMA contributes to advancing SDGs and promoting environmental conservation and climate action in learners and schools in Kenya.
The Award aligns with multiple SDGs, including SDG 4 (Target 4.7), SDG 13 (Target 13.3), SDG 6, SDG 14, SDG 15 and SDG 17. Through its focus on environmental initiatives in schools and encouraging learners to come up with local and contextualized solutions, the award contributes to various dimensions of sustainable development, reflecting the integrated nature of the SDGs.
By recognizing and rewarding their initiatives, the award empowers young individuals to take action and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs within their schools, homes and communities.
The Award empowers young people to become agents of change, fostering their leadership skills, creativity, and environmental stewardship.
The Award fosters partnerships with national and local governments, educational institutions, and environmental organizations, creating synergies and collective action towards the SDGs and building a sustainable future.
First Lady's Mazingira Awards (@flama_254) • Instagram photos and videos
First Lady's Mazingira Awards (@FLAMA_254) / X
Please log in or sign up to comment.