As STROOM , we have been working for Justdiggit since the beginning (2012). Justdiggit is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting climate change by greening Africa. This greening is necessary to prevent the global temperature increase from exceeding 2°C. In early October, I, Samantha Catsburg and CEO of STROOM, had the opportunity to travel to Kenya with Justdiggit to visit various projects. The projects are very different: Justdiggit uses different ways to achieve the goal: recognized greening techniques such as rainwater harvesting by digging bunds: Water bunds are crescent-shaped pits - also called "earth smiles" - that collect rainwater in the ground. There are also projects that bring back trees (Kisiki Hai / FMNR) and projects that develop grass seed banks. All are locally managed and implemented.
Our journey took us south to the Tanzanian border. Together with the Masai, the colorful nomadic people living primarily in East Africa, Justsdiggit is greening the heavily over grazed and eroded land on the Olgulului-Ololarashi Group Ranch. They are using traditional and new greening techniques.
First, we visited the grass seed storage facilities. These are the storage sites where the grass seeds harvested by the Masai women are stored and dried so that they can later be sold at a fair market value. The purchased grass seeds are then later used again in the bunds to accelerate greening.
We also visited two grass seed banks in the area. Grass seed banks are small, fenced-off areas of common land used for the production of grasses and grass seeds. The grass seed banks are protected from grazing wildlife and cattle using a "living fence," which consists of dense shrubbery.
The grass seed banks are managed and maintained by Masai women's groups in Kenya. Once the grasses are large enough, they produce grass seeds. These are then sold by the women in the local market or to other greening projects. With our visit, we presented the check for last year's work. The Masai women took us through their local customs. Such as expressing gratitude together through prayer and blending into the bright colors through rugs and jewelry.
Of course, we also visited the area where bunds were dug. These are covered with branches to prevent the grass seeds from blowing away or wild animals from eating them. The photo below shows bunds that have already had a rainy season and where under the branches you can already see vegetation returning. This is evidence of the effect of the dug bunds.
Later by car we also passed more recently dug bunds. Here you can clearly see the difference from bunds that have already had a season of rain.
The grass seed bank areas as well as the bunds we visited are close to Amboselli National Park. Amboselli is one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world, but it is not only within it that these wild animals live. They are also outside the park and we passed them frequently when we were on our way to the various project areas.
During this trip I got to experience what a beautiful country Kenya is and how Justdiggit contributes to it in various ways:
- The jobs Justdiggit provides to Masai women, who through this income become financially independent, enabling them to pay for school fees and health care.
- The bunds dug by the local community, allowing the water balance to recover and the grass seeds in the soil to sprout, with a return of vegetation as a green result. And best of all: spread the seeds of the returned vegetation back into the bunds for an ever-recurring effect: even more greenery returns!
- Spreading the knowledge Justdiggit has through the local community.
Want to know more about this? Check out Justdiggit's website, where you can contribute to these wonderful initiatives yourself. At STROOM , once a year we organize a so-called Bundraiser through which we raise money to dig bunds. We have greened 118,420 m2 so far, which is equivalent to 16 (!) soccer fields. In any case, I am an ambassador for life: together we make the world a little more beautiful (and greener).
Samantha Catsburg
CEO STROOM