Environmental Sustainability

Maurine Nduati is a passionate advocate for gender equity and equality and a dedicated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) professional. With a background in Community Development and  Project Management, Maurine brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work in empowering women and addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Over the years, she has proven herself as a versatile and highly adaptable project team member, consistently achieving targets in productivity and work quality.

Maurine has played a pivotal role in advocating for women’s inclusion in leadership positions within Taita Taveta Conservancies, which is under the umbrella body Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Assoctiation (TTWCA) where she works as a gender officer. TTWCA brings together 35 conservancies and ranches in the Tsavo Consevantion area. The goal of the organization is to achieve a unified, healthy and connected Tsavo landscape, that supports community livelihoods. Conservation has over the years been deemed as a man’s role but the real efforts of conservantions are carried out by women, but it is unfortunate that the women never receive any direct benefits or have a say in decsions and thus creating a big gap in achieveing gender equality in conservation.

Maurine’s role has been instrumental in addressing the exclusions from the prevailing cultural and social norms, resulting in over 70 women now serving on conservancy boards. Her leadership extends to economic empowerment initiatives, where she has trained 150 women  engaging in basket weaving adjacent to Kasigau Wildlife Conservancy through the RISE challenge grant. This training, combined with Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), has provided these women with vital skills to combat economic exclusion which is a form of GBV rarely spoken about.

A Trainer of Trainees on the Social Analysis and Action model, Maurine challenges harmful cultural biases and practices that lead to gender exclusion. Her efforts have engaged over 600 community members in dialogues to address GBV and promote gender inclusion in natural resource management. Maurine’s expertise in donor engagement and relationship building has further amplified her impact, securing crucial support for her initiatives.

Maurine is committed to ensuring that the voices of women and youth are represented in all spheres of life . Her work also captures and shares the stories of female game scouts, promoting awareness of gender inclusion and GBV in traditionally male-dominated roles.

Linkedin profile: www.linkedin.com/in/maurine-n-60601072

Elizabeth Wangari is a dedicated educator with 12 years of experience in the Kenyan education sector. She has had the privilege of working with students and teachers at Silibwet Secondary School, where she has consistently delivered exemplary performance in her teaching subject, Geography.

Her commitment to academic excellence has earned her recognition, culminating in being awarded Teacher of the Year in Nyandarua County.

Beyond the classroom, Elizabeth is a passionate environmentalist who actively engages with local communities. She is the founder of the Evergreen Environmental Movement, a platform dedicated to promoting sustainability, conservation, and community-driven environmental initiatives.

Key Achievements & Contributions

✅ 12 years in education, fostering student success in Geography.
✅ Teacher of the Year Award (Nyandarua County) – Recognized for outstanding teaching and dedication.
✅ Founder, Evergreen Environmental Movement – Leading community-driven sustainability initiatives.
✅ Active community engagement – Advocating for environmental awareness and action.

Elizabeth Wangari continues to inspire both students and communities, blending education and environmental advocacy to create a lasting impact.

Meet Angela Wawire, a passionate advocate for women’s health and environmental sustainability, and the proud founder of GreenFemme. At just 20 years old and in her third year of medical school at the University of Nairobi, Angela is already making waves in the field of menstrual health management.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion for improving women’s health and addressing environmental concerns, Angela recognized the urgent need for accessible and eco-friendly menstrual products, particularly in underserved communities. This realization sparked the creation of GreenFemme, an organization dedicated to revolutionizing menstrual health management.

GreenFemme’s innovative approach focuses on producing biodegradable sanitary towels from maize husks, offering an affordable and sustainable alternative to traditional menstrual products. But GreenFemme is more than just a product – it’s a movement. Angela and her team are committed to empowering women and girls through education about menstrual health, breaking longstanding taboos, and fostering a more inclusive society.

Since its inception, GreenFemme has made significant strides, reaching numerous communities and providing them with both sustainable sanitary products and essential education on menstrual health. These efforts have improved the quality of life and health knowledge in these communities, making a tangible impact on the lives of women and girls.

Looking ahead, GreenFemme has ambitious yet achievable goals. Angela plans to introduce their products to more communities and expand the scope of their educational programs, furthering their mission of making menstrual health accessible and sustainable for all. As a nominee for the Zuri Awards, GreenFemme’s alignment with this year’s theme of ‘inclusivity’ demonstrates their commitment to creating a more equitable and environmentally-conscious future in menstrual health management.

Meet Faith Chelangat, a dedicated environmentalist with a passion for conservation and sustainability. Faith is the driving force behind an organization focused on preserving the environment through tree planting and public education on the importance of environmental stewardship.

Faith’s initiative aims to combat deforestation and promote a greener, healthier planet by organizing tree planting events and educational outreach programs. Through these efforts, Faith and her team work to raise awareness about the critical role trees play in mitigating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and safeguarding natural resources.

One of the unique aspects of Faith’s organization is its innovative approach to tree planting. In addition to traditional tree planting activities, Faith organizes tournaments that bring communities together to plant trees in a fun and engaging way. These tournaments not only contribute to reforestation efforts but also foster a sense of camaraderie and collective action among participants.

Through Faith’s leadership and passion for environmental conservation, her organization is making a tangible impact in communities, one tree at a time. By educating the public and empowering individuals to take proactive steps to protect the environment, Faith is helping to build a more sustainable future for generations to come.