Rona Foundation Blogs

Like his peers, Brian Onyango, a young man living with a disability in South Sakwa, found himself in a community overwhelmed by environmental degradation, unemployment, and a pervasive disinterest in climate change issues. In Bondo’s rural setting, where Rona’s Voice to Action project, supported by ForumCiv, is active, the land is deteriorating under the strain of unpredictable weather patterns. The long rains have become erratic, devastating droughts are lasting longer, and the future looks increasingly bleak for the rural youth. These young people show little interest in agriculture, and many have abandoned efforts to protect the environment. Instead, they have turned to casual and risky jobs, such as boda boda riding,artisanal mining, and fishing, with some falling into substance abuse and crime.
Despite the challenges, Brian saw potential where others saw problems. As a climate champion within the Rona network and a member of the established co-management group trained to advance food security campaigns in Bondo, he decided to take action. He started small, transforming a piece of his family’s land into a productive kitchen garden.
There, he cultivated sukuma wiki, potatoes, bananas,and assorted vegetables. This garden provided food for his family and became a small income-generating activity. It was his first step in showing his peers that climate action and sustainable farming could lead to a better life.
Its worth noting that Brian’s vision has extended beyond his garden. He recognized the power of digital platforms to spread awareness and rally support for climate change actions, by sharing his progress on whatsapp status, FaceBook and Instagram stories. Those efforts gained attention of the African Centre for Women Communication Technology, who trained him on digital skills for agriculture as a Trainer of Trainers (ToT). Equipped with this new knowledge, Brian educated over 150 local farmers on sustainable farming methods that integrated modern technology.
Also, his success began to inspire other young people, and soon, more of them started to show interest in climate-related activities.
As the enthusiasm grew, Brian took the next significant step by leading ten other youth members from South Sakwa to transform the Rona’s Lok Lwasi campaign into a Community-Based Organization (CBO). Under this new structure, they have since launched a home-to-home awareness campaign, encouraging families to plant fruit trees, bananas, and climate-resilient crops. They are strengthening the community’s capacity to adapt to climate change and ensuring that more people were involved in preserving the environment.
The impact of Brian’s leadership is promising. The number of young people actively participating in climate action surged from 35 to 59. These youths engaged in various initiatives,including mass tree planting and advocacy work at local and national levels. Brian led clean-up campaigns in Bondo and Alego, focusing on solid waste management and environmental stewardship. The community are beginning to change, with a noticeable shift in attitudes towards climate action.
Community members are starting to emulate Brian’s bold steps. Fellow youth appreciate his role in forming the CBO, which not only raised awareness about climate change but also introduced alternative income-generating activities aimed towards sustainable and resilient to climate shifts. Other members of co-management team, are also now working towards registering as a CBO, benefited from Brian’s efforts by gaining access to government climate change funds and learning from the two greenhouses at the Rona Centre, which became hubs
for smart farming practices.
Local residents, including widows and people with disabilities, see the tangible benefits from Brian’s work. His connections are helping them secure seedlings and other resources, further
integrating them into the climate resilience movement. Jacob Andiego, one of the members of Lok Lwasi CBO, expressed his appreciation, noting how Brian’s example had transformed their
views on climate change and smart farming, and have jolted them to include activism as a thematic area for Lok Lwasi CBO.
The Voice to Action project, in which Brian was a key participant, played a crucial role in his journey. It empowered him to see his family land not just as a piece of property but as an asset
that could be harnessed for good. Through his leadership in the Lok Lwasi campaign, Brian is becoming a beacon of change, guiding his community towards a more sustainable future.
Brian’s impact is evident in the actions of the Lok Lwasi CBO, which has actively participated in climate justice initiatives in Siaya County. Collaborating with organizations and consortiums like
Inclusive Futures Coalition, Light Youth Group, Local Baptist & Seventh Day Adventist Churches,they have worked to address environmental challenges, including submitting petitions and calls
for proposals to curb illegal and irregular mining activities in Siaya County, mass tree planting at Got Abiero Conservancy and Wichlum Beach Park .The outcome of these efforts has been a
more engaged and resilient community, with young people at the forefront of climate action.Brian Onyango’s journey from a climate change champion to the youth leader of Lok Lwasi CBO is a
powerful example of how individual determination and leadership can enhance community transformation. His story shows that with the right tools, knowledge, andsu pport, young people can drive significant change, building a future that is not only environmentally sustainable but also economically viable. Through his work, Brian is proving that the youth of South Sakwa are not just the leaders of tomorrow but the change makers of today.

Rozette Juma, Programs Director, Rona Foundation & Roseline Orwa, the Founder & CEO of Rona Foundation, a grassroots organisation in Kenya that works to advance and protect widows’ rights, as well as provide support to orphans and vulnerable children.
She is a lifelong Fellow of the Atlantic Social Economic and Equity Program at the London School of Economics for social and economic equity. An Aspen New Voices Fellow 2021, and a
Storyteller with The Moth Africa. She tweets @Roseline Orwa.