The Ukarimu Initiative is a youth-led, community based program launched to uplift the lives of school children in Kenya who live in some of the country’s most vulnerable environments specifically those located near waste dumpsites and flood-prone areas. The word Ukarimu means hospitality or compassion in Swahili, reflecting the core values of the initiative: dignity, care, and community-driven support. This initiative was founded in response to the alarming realities faced by children who must navigate toxic surroundings, unsafe school conditions, and the compounded stress of poverty, environmental hazards, and limited access to basic needs like food and menstrual products. Many of these children experience:

• Chronic absenteeism due to lack of lunch money or menstrual products,

• Poor mental health from growing up in neglected or unstable environments,

• A lack of access to climate education or knowledge of how to advocate for safer spaces,

• Minimal exposure to mentors or programs that foster gender equity and emotional well-being.

Ukarimu pronunciation ( oo-kah-REE-moo )

1. Waste Management.  

It would be fair to call this the major problem facing not only the institution but the community at large. There are no designated areas in the school to dispose of waste. The area used to dispose of such waste is literally in the school field and a few meters from the classrooms. It was heartbreaking to witness how small children just stood next to a burning trash heap next to the playground.

Within the school, there is a sewage passage in the middle of the playing field with dirty, smelly, and contaminated water. It passes in the middle of the school’s field. Aside from that, some parts of that passage have overgrown grass covering, making it vulnerable for anyone to unknowingly fall into that ditch. The same applies to the dumpsite; students hang around the sewage passage.  

Also, the water trenches, for storm water drainage, have been blocked with different types of waste, making the water stagnate in these areas between classrooms.

Onto the waste management outside the institution, it doesn’t get any better; there’s a dumpsite just outside the school’s gate. Beneath the dumpsite runs a drainage path that is also blocked and filled with waste. Just beneath the drainage at the other end, there are “mabati” - corrugated metal stalls, and you could see even some small kids sitting next to that drainage, which has contaminated water and a lot of waste. The drop-off point for accessing the institution might turn into a dumpsite over time, since there is evidence of intentional waste disposal in the area. Unfortunately, this school is in a low-income area where even the most basic resources for proper waste management are out of reach. And so, this stench, the stagnant water, the children beside a polluted drainage, is not a circumstance of neglect. It's their next best alternative.

2. Water Availability.  

After the visit, I thought water was more of a privilege, which shouldn't be the case! 

With a population of over 3000 students, they share 30,000 Liters of water with only one outlet. You can imagine what that looks like with children of different ages scrambling over this precious resource.  

There is no drainage pathway for water beneath that aforementioned water tap, meaning that students are fetching water to drink, others without bottles, with all the scrambled and just beneath them, a muddy paddle that they step on to access the water.

3. Vegetation 

Majority of the school is pretty bare, especially the playing grounds. The kids play on a dusty field, and you can imagine what that looks like, with everyone in the field and the wind blowing. There are no tree shades in the institution making the whole condition worse. 

Despite all this, there is a genuine effort towards greening the institution, as there is an ongoing project, which is currently months old, to make the school green by planting trees and protecting them to grow into valuable vegetation to provide shade for the students. A  notable concern is the type of trees planted, as some may require a lot of water to mature, which is in scarcity.  

Interaction Summary.  

Key insights from the people familiar with the place include,  

◇ There is a problem of "familiarity" and being comfortable. Since these are the conditions the majority of the community were born into, they take it as their norm, hence less action towards changes from the community.  

◇There are no designated waste disposal areas or alternatives for the community, leaving them with no option but to dispose of the waste in that manner. 

◇ There is a lack of environmental education; the students don't understand the importance of having a clean environment in which to study.

Conclusion. 

This report clearly outlines the urgency and the need for the Ukarimu Initiative phase 2. With your help, through the second phase, Ukarimu will aim to promote sustainable environmental and social practices within Ronald Ngala Primary School, thereby enhancing learning conditions and instilling environmental stewardship among students.

Our main Objectives:

1. To conduct an environmental inspection and photo documentation of the school grounds, surrounding settlement, and hygiene conditions. - Completed

2. To compile a comprehensive journal/report highlighting environmental gaps social challenges, and opportunities for sustainability - completed

3. To pilot sustainable interventions, including waste management and

menstrual health training.

4. To carry out a targeted clean-up and garbage management exercise in

collaboration with students, teachers, and local partners.

5. To integrate environmental education through student-centered activities such as talks, workshops, writing, and debate competitions.

Our goal is to ignite a sense of urgency, touch a heart through their kindness, and to start conversations that will end with the students at Ronald Ngala Primary School experiencing a green, clean, and safe environment to study in.