When Rachel Ruto Will Fete Winners Of Environmental Awards

First Lady Rachel Ruto will award the winners of the 2024 First Lady's Mazingira Awards (FLAMA) competition on Mazingira Day, October 10, 2024.

This will occur during the first award ceremony of the FLAMA Awards, which is set to take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

The First Lady Mazingira Awards (FLAMA), an initiative mooted during the Africa Climate Summit 2023, allow learners to contribute to Kenya’s climate action through creative expression, essays in English and Kiswahili, drawing and painting, and spoken word.

According to a statement from the Office of the First Lady, children are the most vulnerable victims of climate change, especially in Kenya's vast arid and semi-arid regions.

"And yet, despite their vulnerability, children understand these challenges in ways we sometimes overlook. We must listen to their voices, as they understand the challenges they face," the statement on Thursday, October 3 read in part.

Journalists during a media breakfast on the FLAMA Awards on October 3, 2024. /OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY

"Raising awareness of the critical issues of climate change and environmental protection, especially among children, is essential and calls on us to collectively work together."

A media breakfast was held on Thursday featuring journalists and stakeholders to discuss children's participation in climate action and share the roadmap for the First Lady Mazingira Awards 1st Award Ceremony.

According to the State Department for Environment, Climate Change And Forestry, Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno, the initiative, targeting 89,000 schools and 18 million learners, including special needs learners, is not just a competition but rather a movement which aims to teach a deep sense of responsibility and ownership among the young people of Kenya regarding the preservation and restoration of the environment.

"At the heart of FLAMA is the principle of child advocacy. The role of children in shaping the future of environmental and climate resilience cannot be overstated. It is our children who will bear the brunt of climate change if we do not act decisively," he said.

"Therefore, by empowering them through initiatives like FLAMA, we are ensuring that they become active participants in the solutions, not passive observers."

This year's theme is 'Restore our Land, Secure our Future' (Turejeshe Ardhi Yetu, Tuhakikishe Mustakabali Wetu). Mama Rachel earlier this year revealed that the theme underscores the critical need for land restoration, combating desertification and strengthening drought resilience in Kenya to ensure a sustainable future.

"We invite learners to delve into the realm of ecosystem restoration, climate action, and sustainable practices in their submissions," she stated, adding "We look forward to seeing creativity shine through in art, essays, and spoken word pieces that offer practical ideas for a greener, more resilient future."

The First Lady had revealed that the best submissions would be selected as winners and celebrated for their impactful contributions.

The office of the First Lady is participating in the government’s National Tree Growing Restoration Campaign to plant and grow 15 billion trees by 2032. The target is for various stakeholders and partners including schools and learners to plant 500 million trees by 2032.

The award aims to nurture and empower learners as agents of change for environmental conservation and climate action and promote an environment-centred entrepreneurship culture among learners.