Youth against climate change,drugs abuse

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Kendo Njie, Abdoulie Bojang

Today, on , we shine a spotlight on Sera Rhino Sanctuary — East Africa’s first community-owned black rhino sanctuary.

In 2015, members of Sera Community Conservancy joined hands to establish the 107-square-kilometre sanctuary. With the support of NRT, Kenya Wildlife Service, and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, 10 critically endangered black rhinos were translocated to Sera, forming the Sanctuary’s founding population. Since then, it has stood as a beacon of hope for the species, with the population thriving at an impressive 16% annual growth rate, the highest in Kenya.

Last year, Sera marked a major milestone with the arrival of four southern white rhinos translocated from Lewa to the sanctuary. Before the year closed, one of them — Arot — gave birth to a healthy male calf. In the same year, a black rhino calf was also born.

This year, the conservancy celebrated four more black rhino births in the sanctuary, an inspiring sign of hope and resilience.

Today, Sera is home to a flourishing population of 31 rhinos, comprising both black and white rhinos, a testament to what community-led conservation and strong partnerships can achieve.

This remarkable success is also made possible by leveraging cutting-edge technology and, above all, the courage and dedication of community rangers who protect these iconic species every single day.

𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝒀𝑨𝑭𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒄 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 70 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔.

𝑱𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒚𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚.

The recent incident involving the cutting down of trees planted by TAF Africa Global in Brufut Gardens, The Gambia, raises concerns about communication and environmental responsibility. According to Mustapha Njie, CEO and proprietor TAF Africa Global, the trees were removed by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), likely due to safety concerns related to high-tension lines. The trees were planted over 20 years ago as part of TAF Africa Global's environmental initiative.

It appears that NAWEC claimed the trees posed a threat to high-tension lines, but TAF Africa Global suggests that proper trimming could have been a solution. A dedicated WhatsApp group between NAWEC and TAF Africa Global existed for better communication, but it seemingly didn't prevent the incident. This breakdown in communication highlights the need for more effective collaboration between stakeholders.

As a strong advocate for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, TAF Africa Global has a policy of planting ten trees for every house built. The company's commitment to environmental sustainability is evident in their initiatives. However, the removal of the trees in Brufut Gardens is a setback and raises questions about the balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation.

Moving forward, it would be beneficial for NAWEC and TAF Africa Global to re-evaluate their communication strategy to ensure that both parties are aware of potential issues. An investigation into the incident could also help determine the responsibility and prevent similar incidents in the future. Assessing the environmental impact of removing the trees could provide insights into potential mitigation measures. Ultimately, finding a solution that balances infrastructure development with environmental conservation is crucial.

Photo credit Mustapha Njie - TAF

Urban greening should be everyone's priority

The Youth Academic Front Institute, a nonprofit organization founded by Mr. Lamin Ceesay, has launched a free online training program for 73 young people across the country. The five-week intensive training aims to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to become professional graphic designers using just a smartphone.

The training will take the participants through various topics, including introduction to graphic design, introduction to Canva App, introduction to logo design, practicals on logo design, introduction to flyer design, practicals on flyer designs, certificate designs, and project and assessment.

The program starts with an orientation session, followed by a structured schedule with sessions held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with some sessions extending to 10:30 pm. The training is designed to provide participants with hands-on experience and practical skills in graphic design, enabling them to enhance their career prospects and creativity.

This initiative has the potential to empower young people with valuable skills, and it's great to see organizations like the Youth Academic Front Institute investing in the development of young people.