Kibera's Green Heroes: How Women are Adapting to Climate Change

In this episode, we hear from Malassen Hamida, the founder and chairperson of the Mazingira Women Initiative. The initiative focuses on environmental issues.

Born in Kibera, Nairobi's informal settlement, Hamida narrates how she's deeply inspired by Wangari Maathai, a strong woman leader who campaigned for environmental care.

She reminds us that Kibera was once a very green area, an extension of Ngong Fores. Due to rural-urban migration the settlement is over populated and has many challenges including lack of green spaces, clogged drains, poor waste management and poor hygiene.

Hamida describes their work in Kibera, which includes making charcoal briquettes from community waste materials and planting fruit trees that offer both environmental and economic benefits. Interestingly, sorting waste led them to collect many avocado seeds, which then sparked the idea for tree nurseries.

She explains how they recycle waste. For example, they use egg shells for organic manure, and create regenerative bags and duvets from old clothes.

For food security, the group practices urban hydroponic farming. She describes how they dry surplus vegetables, an indigenous adaptation, to help build resilience during dry periods.

Hamida highlights one of their achievements, noting that their volunteer street clean-up model was so successful that the county government adopted it and used it in other areas.

She also explains that women in the initiative are reliable and committed. This is contrast to some youth who might leave for other jobs. She also mentions their efforts in e-waste collection.