Hello everyone here..... I hope everyone here is doing well. "Your life is not well lived until it impacts on "...This statement always got me on my feet everyday to make impacts and to contribute collaboratively in making change so we can always have a harmonious environment and an devoid of Dangers.
I've been privileged to be a very strong member of ACTIVISTA....A youth group and network of young people across the continent that brings young people together to contribute in advocacy of social issues in our communities to make sure we have always a harmonious and a sustainable environment.
ACTIVISTA works in collaboration with ACTIONAID, a non governmental organization and other organizations and youth groups that always help in funding to execute projects.
This project aims at sensitising some selected communities in Tamale Ghana under Sagnarigu on issues of climate change and it's menaces if care is not taken.The advocacy targets everyone in the community because we strongly believe everyone has a role to play in making our environment a harmonious place to be.
On our arrival to the community, with the help of the community lead, helped us to the chief palace to inform the chief and the opinion leaders about what our visit intends and we were welcomed very well and the chief acknowledged and hailed our efforts in advocacy about this issues and he was very happy for us choosing the community as one of our operational areas.
After Visiting the Chief palace, As a team we devided ourselves into groups and distributed to parts of the community to make sure the message is well and evenly distributed. The advocacy went on from household to household.
We deliberated on Issues of Bush fires and its menace to the environment and we made them understand the fact bush fires can lead to serious environmental issues like drought, less rainfall, infertile soils and moreover has a direct effect to ourselves. Bush fires can lead to destruction of properties,Resources and livelihoods.
We also deliberated on Deforestation and why there's a need for afforestation because trees play a very major role in conservation of the environment.
We made the people understand that trees has a role in the formation of rains, it serves as livelihoods for some living organisms, it helps in the regulation of oxygen, trees conserves our soils, trees serves as source of food and medicine.... The understood the fact that, benefits of trees cannot be overemphasized and we need to develop the habit of afforestation to conserve our environment.
We also deliberated on proper disposal of waste and the need to have a cleaner environment and the people appreciated and understood the need for a cleaner environment and they mentioned that, even in the scriptures, it's mentioned that Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
Some number of feedback and challenges from the community people after our conversations and advocacy as are follows.
1.Portable Drinking water.
2.Seedlings for the tree planting initiatives.
3.Congested Housing.
4.Demarcations of Lands which leads to Deforestation.
- Lack of Waste bins for proper disposal of waste.
This were some of the feedback we got from the people and they anticipate that these issues will be looked at so we can collaboratively make a change and have a harmonious environment devoid of these dangers.
They shared to us their drinking water and looking at the nature of the drinking water, it's pathetic and worried some and you can imagine people drinking it
All in all, The advocacy and sensitization approach went on well and I strongly believe it will go a long way educating the general public of climate change and how we can a harmonious environment devoid of these dangers.
Thanks for your time. 🙏