PROJECTS

Schools for Ecological Conservation and Food Security

The main project goal was to enhance environmental conservation, food and nutrition security among 10 school communities in 11 counties in Kenya through Integrated Land Use Design (ILUD) process. This was in line with our mission of transforming schools into dynamic learning centres of sustainable land use in support of holistic community development.

School Ecological Conservation and Food Security Project had three objectives, which are:

  1. To enhance the capacity of member organizations in implementing ILUD model in schools.
  2. To enhance SCOPE Kenya visibility and presence both at county and national level by end of two years
  3. To strengthen SCOPE Kenya’s internal and external capacity to facilitate quality service delivery to member organizations and school communities by end of two years.

The impact of the project was as follows:

  1. There was improvement in land use in schools where ILUD has been initiated.
  2. Improved change of attitude and participation of school children and teachers in agricultural and environmental conservation activities in schools and at community level.
  3. Growing interest among SCOPE Kenya members in use of ILUD approach in school and communities’ projects, hence viewing schools as hubs for country development.
  4. In schools where ILUD started before, there are reports of improved academic performance, responsibility, discipline and leadership skills among learners.

Youth and Smallholder Farmers Championing Farmer Seed Systems and Agro-ecology to Enhance Food Sovereignty and Nutrition in Ten Communities in East and Southern Africa

The main objective of this project is to improve access to safe & nutritious food and contribute towards poverty alleviation for sustainable livelihoods and nature conservation among schools communities. This is through the establishment of permaculture/agro-ecological agriculture production systems. This is in line with United Nations sustainable development goals of 2030, specifically goals 1, 2, 4 & 13 which are no poverty, zero hunger, quality education and climate action respectively.

The objectives of the project are:

  1. To strengthen the capacity of a minimum of 12 SCOPE Kenya Member Organizations (MOs), to improve their work, in addressing food security and ecological conservation in 12 schools by the end of the 2 years.
  2. To strategically raise the profile and visibility of SCOPE Kenya, to enhance our capacity in creating awareness and influencing policies that support Whole schools ILUD.
  3. To strengthen SCOPE Kenya’s internal and external capacity to make it a vibrant platform for learning and information sharing on agro ecological practices among member organizations by the end of the project.

The achievements of this project so far are:

  1. Increased knowledge and skills in agro-ecological/ permaculture practices among teachers, pupils and parents for example in Joy Town School.
  2. Improved participation of young people/ school learners in agricultural and environmental conservation activities.
  3. Improved access to safe vegetables among children’s and teachers
  4. Improved utilization of land, for food production
  5. Improved management of natural resources e.g. soils and water
  6. Improved working relationship between teachers- pupils, the school management and parents.
  7. Reduced cost of buying vegetables from external suppliers, which translates to more school income.

Youth and Smallholder Farmers Seed Multiplication

The primary goal of this project is to facilitate the establishment of seed banks and farmer seed system groups (FSSG) that use agro-ecological practices for food sovereignty and nutrition security. Target farmers and learners will be trained on seed issues and supportive agro-ecological practices including integrated land use design. Each farmer seed system group will save and multiply local seeds and establish community seed banks based on a strong network of household seed banks. The FSSGs will collaborate at national and regional levels and form advocacy platforms with other farmer groups from the Seed and Knowledge Initiative (SKI), and other networks.

It is innovative because it will use schools as centres of agro-ecology demonstrations and community seed banks at the same time grooming young farmer seed system champions who will participate in intergenerational learning. Strengthening community based seed systems is a critical step in addressing climate resilience as well as nutrition and food sovereignty.