Theme: “Empowering Communities for Sustainable Climate Action in Kenya”
Prepared By: Orthodox Christian Youth Association of Kenya (OCYAK)
Date: September 2024

1. Overview

Rooted in Orthodox theology and inspired by Biblical teachings, OCYAK Project Green embodies our response to the divine call to care for creation. The project draws from the Orthodox Christian understanding of humanity’s role as stewards of the Earth (Genesis 2:15), called to “tend and keep” the environment for the glory of God and the sustenance of all life.

This initiative is spearheaded by Orthodox youth in Kenya, who are taking the lead in addressing environmental challenges through tree planting, youth training, and climate advocacy. By doing so, the project seeks to transform communities, restore ecosystems, and build resilience against the severe impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and food insecurity.

Scriptural Foundations:

• “The Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” – Psalm 24:1
• “Get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness.” – Acts 26:16

Challenges Facing Africa

Africa, though contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, faces disproportionate climate impacts. These challenges include:

1. Extreme Weather Events:
   • Prolonged droughts causing water scarcity and crop failures.
   • Flooding leading to displacement and destruction of livelihoods.
2. Environmental Degradation:
   • Rampant deforestation for agriculture and fuel use.
   • Soil erosion diminishing agricultural productivity.
3. Socio-Economic Impacts:
   • Heightened poverty due to lost income and increased migration.
   • Escalating food insecurity and malnutrition.
4. Cascading Effects:
   • Mental health challenges from climate-induced stress.
   • Increased incidents of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) linked to resource scarcity.

These realities demand immediate, faith-driven, and practical action to restore ecosystems, empower communities, and build sustainable livelihoods.

This report outlines the progress made, provides insights into the project’s impact, and presents a plan to sustain and expand the initiative until February 2, 2026.

2. Key Achievements to Date

2.1 Tree Planting

• Trees Planted: 10,000+
• Locations: Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Machakos, Kisumu, Turkana
• Tree Survival Rate: 80% (ongoing monitoring)
• Impact:
  • Restoration of 10 hectares of degraded land.
  • Sequestration of an estimated 1,500 metric tons of CO2 annually.

2.2 Youth Training

• Youth Trained: 5,000 (50% women, 40% from marginalized communities)
• Topics Covered:
  • Climate-smart agriculture
  • Water conservation and management
  • Community mobilization for climate action
• Impact:
  • Formation of 30 youth-led environmental action groups.
  • Increased adoption of sustainable practices in schools and communities.

2.3 Community Awareness

• Beneficiaries: 8,000 community members sensitized.
• Channels Used: Public campaigns, workshops, and social media outreach.
• Impact:
  • Enhanced community understanding of climate risks.
  • Increased participation in local conservation activities.

2.4 Partnerships

• Collaboration with Kenya Forest Service, local schools, and faith-based organizations.
• Support from national and international partners, including NGOs and private sector stakeholders.

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3. Expansion Plan (2024-2026)

To build on the success of Project Green, OCYAK plans to continue and scale its activities until February 2, 2026.

3.1 Objectives

1. Plant an additional 40,000 trees across 10 counties.
2. Train 10,000 more youth on environmental conservation and climate adaptation.
3. Expand community awareness programs to reach 20,000 more individuals.
4. Strengthen research and advocacy efforts to address emerging climate challenges.

4. Planned Activities (2024-2026

ctivity	Target	Timeline
Tree Planting	40,000 trees	Jan 2025 – Dec 2025
Youth Training	10,000 youth	Jan 2025 – Feb 2026
Community Awareness Campaigns	20,000 community members	Jan 2025 – Nov 2025
Research and Data Analysis	Climate and SGBV risks	Jan 2025 – July 2025

5. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

• Tree Planting: Survival rates will be monitored quarterly, with corrective action for underperforming areas.
• Youth Training: Surveys will measure knowledge retention and adoption of climate-smart practices.
• Awareness Campaigns: Feedback forms and attendance records will track community engagement.
• Impact Reports: Mid-term and final evaluations will document outcomes and lessons learned.

6. Sustainability and Impact

Sustainability

• Partnerships with local governments and community groups to ensure long-term care for planted trees.
• Establishment of community nurseries to supply seedlings beyond the project’s timeline.
• Integration of youth climate clubs into schools to maintain momentum.

Projected Impact

• Enhanced climate resilience for 100,000 Kenyans.
• Increased tree cover contributing to Kenya’s goal of 10% forest cover.
• Empowered youth driving grassroots climate action across the country.

7. Conclusion

OCYAK Project Green has already demonstrated significant impact in combating climate change and fostering community resilience. By continuing this work until February 2026, we aim to solidify these gains, reach more beneficiaries, and establish a lasting legacy of climate action in Kenya.

Contact Information
Joshua Kimani
Secretary General, Orthodox Christian Youth Association of Kenya (OCYAK)
Email: Jkimani@ocyak.org | Phone: +254 795 937 324