Mbita Glocal Hub Spotlight

YouthxYouth Glocal Hubs are our locally-rooted, globally-supported homes for youth-led transformation of education, facilitated by resident youth weavers in partnership with allies and institutions to accelerate the process of young people influencing, designing, and creating systemic change.

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This month we are spotlighting our Mbita Glocal Hub, woven by Wilson Oding, Felix Bor, Trephia Caroline, Teddy Katono, and Sheila Odhiambo.

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The YxY Mbita Glocal Hub is a youth-led community of activists focusing on Climate and Nature Education and Women empowerment. It began in 2018 with the aim of increasing forest cover and food production in the dry Nyanza region of Western Kenya. The hub believes in Knowledge for life and Power for Transformation because with the right knowledge or information, we have the power to transform the universe to serve us all in a sustainable manner. Mbita Hub developed three programs to explore the theme of climate and nature education; Ii) Trees for education program which aims to increase the environmental knowledge and participation in climate change for all in the community. Ii) Brighter Life Circles (BriLiC) is a wellness aware program that tackles issues affecting participation or community engagement in climate action. Iii) Learning center program is the resource center and demonstration site for farmer field schools and workshops.

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We asked Wilson, a weaver of this hub, a few questions to hear more about the transformative work they do. Here's what he had to share:

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‍YouthxYouth: "How did the Mbita hub begin?"

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Wilson Oding, Glocal Hub Weaver:

"In 2018, two youths saw how pollution was affecting their environment and much plastic waste was all over. During this time there was a drought and the land was becoming bare, agriculture was failing and food supplies were scarce. People could not afford to buy food or spare money to buy tree saplings to plant for green cover. It was difficult for students to stay in school and learn with empty stomachs and consequently, their hours in school reduced as others dropped out or became occasional truants. We took it upon ourselves to do something, however little,...and so we started tree nurseries and organic farming in a small space we had borrowed. We collected plastic bottles and containers that could hold soil for planting seeds. With time, the nursery grew and the number of seedlings went up. We also managed the small space to accommodate a kitchen garden which sustained us as we concentrated on planting trees on riparian lands and the bare hills of Gembe, Mfangano Island and Rusinga, communities within Mbita District. We were motivated to do this owing to the fact that we longed to change the face of our community and we did this, people soon became interested and wanted to learn so that they could practice the same on their farms to grow their own food. This was an inspiration that prompted us to start up farmer field schools to educate the community on various topics concerning permaculture, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry and community well-being. Since the area is dry and economic activity, which is fishing, also deteriorated, it became a lucrative venture for the people to turn to. We forged links with YxY ally and wisdom council member, Prof. Karambu of TIRIJI FOUNDATION in Meru who provided mentorship and exposure for the hub members to ensure the young ambitious youths put their ideas into practice. So far, we have successfully established seven tree nurseries each with a capacity of about 25000 seedlings. We have also formed community partnerships with different groups and schools and planted more than fifty thousand (50000) trees and established climate smart kitchen gardens for 23 families. With time, we realized youth involvement and participation in community activities and climate action declined. Issues involved were more or less touching on people’s well-being. We were greatly affected by depression and ways of managing stress, unemployment, teenage pregnancies, gender discrimination among others. We came up with program called Brighter Life Circles, BriLiC, to help us tackle these issues to ensure a healthy generation that is actively making positive contributions for their communities."

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‍YouthxYouth: "What kind of work has your hub been doing since inception?"

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Wilson Oding, Glocal Hub Weaver:

"We have dedicated our time and energy to running the Trees for Education program that demonstrates and teaches youths and women how to start up and maintain tree nurseries and organic kitchen gardens. We engage them through farmer field schools where learning and action takes place in our main demonstration site. This program has helped us awaken the local community on value addition skills and tips, learn best practices to conserve our environment and manage domestic wastes responsibly. Currently we have started teaching people about seedballs and their importance and relevance in our region. We continue distributing and propagating the seedballs on bare lands to increase forest cover.

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Through the Brighter Life Circles program, (BriLiC) we bring people of different gender groups and age groups together to engage in heart-level conversations around topics affecting community or individuals to motivate one another to cope with life situations as we learn and commit to living meaningful and honorable lives. We recently had a workshop sensitizing the community on ways of managing teenage pregnancies and depression among the youth.

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On 26th July 2024, we had a youth forum where we explored topics concerning Youth Mental Health and how it is connected to youth involvement in climate action/activism."

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‍‍YouthxYouth: "What is your hub’s mission?"

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Wilson Oding, Glocal Hub Weaver:

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"Our mission is to provide continuous and adaptable learning among the young generation and facilitate their process of climate action for sustainable and thriving ecosystems that works for all in this fast-paced technological environment."

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‍YouthxYouth: "What work does your hub hope to do in the future?"

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Wilson Oding, Glocal Hub Weaver:

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"We hope to establish and run a learning center that gives every youth the opportunity to access accurate information and empowerment to ensure adaptability and continuity of their learning process intergenerationally.

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In the future, MGH [Mbita Glocal Hub] will continue enlightening and providing a platform for the young generation to express and act"

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‍YouthxYouth: "If you could offer one piece of advice to all youth activists in Mbita, what would it be?"

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Wilson Oding, Glocal Hub Weaver:

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"The Now generation type of a leader is like a candle that consumes itself to light the path for others. In the wake of the current world, it is the youth who act with unity to save the future generations by standing up now, stepping into their power and collaborating in making the world a better place for all. Working together works."

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To keep updated on the Mbita Hub’s incredible work make sure to follow them on Instagram!