“Biodiversifying” Department of Geography & Environmental Studies exposure in an International Experiential SLUSE Field Course

The Department of Geography & Environmental Studies Masters students in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management participated in the 2017 Experiential Sustainable Land Use (SLUSE) field course. The course, which provides students with a practical research approach, was organized by the University of Nairobi’s Wangari Mathaai Institute in collaboration with University of Copenhagen and University of Roskilde, Denmark. The field course took place in Kibugu Location, Kiambu County between 2^nd and 13^th of March 2017. The students were supervised by the following University of Nairobi Faculty members: Prof. H.M. Mutembei, Dr. J. Mutune, Mr. A Nunow Abdi (Wangari Maathai Institute), Dr. T. Thenya (Department of Geography & Environmental Studies), Dr. K. Kiemo (Department of Sociology and Social Work), Dr. C. Onyango, Dr M. Muiru (Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection) and Dr. C. Kunyanga (Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology). The supervisors from the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University were Prof. Christian Pilegaard Hansen and Prof. Ebbe Prag, respectively. The course was attended by a total of 34 students of which 22 were international students from both University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University and 12 from the University of Nairobi, Wangari Maathai Institute and Department of Geography & Environmental Studies

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Students in crop farming technology practice in tea plucking

Students in a discussion group in one of the homestead after embarking from field work

Students from Copenhagen University, Nairobi University and. Local guides during Community During the feedback session at Kathakwa primary school

Students working on the livestock thematic from University of Nairobi and Copenhagen University during community feedback meeting with local hosting families

Dr. Sam Owuor on a “Social Cartography” Tour of Brazil

Dr. Sam Owuor of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies visited Brazil (18^thMarch to 7^th April 2017) under the “Social Cartography Project and Technical Training of Researchers and Social Movements in Kenya and Brazil” funded by the Ford Foundation. He travelled to Brazil with staff from Kenya Land Alliance (Hillary Kodieny and Johanna Wanjala). The tour involved sharing experiences with the New Social Cartography of the Amazon Project (PNCSA) linked to the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM). The Kenyan team participated in several meetings on “consultation process about the digital archive regarding Quilombola communities of Brazil”. They visited Sao Luis (Maranhao), Manaus (Amazonas) and Belem (Para) where they participated in various activities: conferences and workshops, meeting and living with Quilombola communities, interacting with Faculty and students of universities participating in the New Social Cartography Project and attending cultural and environmental conservation events. It was a big learning experience – thanks to all our great hosts – under the coordination of Prof.  Alfredo Wagner Berno de Almeida (Coordinator of the New Social Cartography of the Amazon Project and Professor of Anthropology at the Federal University of Amazonas).

Department of Geography and Environmental Studies students volunteer at AIC Children’s Home

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies led UoN students to plant trees at the AIC Children's Home and did general cleaning which involved washing utensils, beddings and environmental cleanup. They also had time to play, bond with the children and counsel them. The home is houses 75 children; most of whom suffer from cerebral palsy and broken limbs. According to the centre coordinator, Mr. Moses Onyango, the home has been able to help many young children recover from cerebral palsy through physiotherapy. “Up to 40% can go through the physiotherapy exercises and recover fully”, he said. He noted that cerebral palsy affects the backbone.

The center has a primary school section where the children who have recovered are given basic education. Upon completing their primary education, they are assisted to get into secondary schools. Some students have performed well and have joined various universities in the country and graduated with honors degrees. AIC Children’s home was started by two missionaries in 1979; Georgina Ohms from Scotland and Nancy Macroy from South Africa.  The center was started with an aim of providing food aid to abandoned children suffering from polio and has since incorporated abandoned children suffering from broken limbs and other ailments.

UoN Students showing AIC children’s how to plant tree  

The Geography students were accompanied by Peace Ambassadors Kenya and Miss Greater Nairobi, Ms Sation Parmuat. Geography