Strathmore Environmental and Sustainability Club (SESC) in collaboration with the Student Council and the Dean of Students held a campaign tagged SU_SAFI. The campaign which ran from 3^rd to 7^th June brought together students to participate in various activities that would help raise awareness about making the University green and plastic free. The Strathmore University Art Club, Strathmore University Media Group, Strathmore Business Club, Strathmore University Debate Society also participated.

Efforts that were made with regards to the objective of the campaign included: The Debate Club engaging students in discussions on cleanliness and environmental sustainability, an art exhibition by the Art Club on how to make art using trash and a green flea market by the Strathmore Business School that sold vegetarian organic food served on paper plates.

Team Environment Kenya also held a panel discussion at the Microsoft Auditorium. Their main objective was to conduct a tree planting session in collaboration with SESC and the Student Council. They eventually planted 100 trees on 7^th June 2019 at the Strathmore Sports Complex. On their way to the Sports Complex, the participants also helped in picking up litter at the student center.

During the week, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in partnership with Strathmore University, organized the Kenya Green Universities Network (KGUN) conference themed: Beat air pollution. The conference brought together students from various universities to network and formulate ways of reducing air pollution.

During the KGUN conference, Prof. Izael Da Silva, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation said that Strathmore University is the first University in Africa that utilizes solar panels which release 0% Carbon emissions. The Student Council also had the opportunity to present the green projects Strathmore University intends to undertake to foster the green movement while SESC held its World Climate Simulation, a program that helps to create awareness on air pollution and global warming through simulation and a C-Roads software that projects the future outcome of global warming till the year 2100.

The visiting students from other universities got an opportunity to visit several projects that the University has undertaken over the years such as: use of LED lights, large windows, evaporative coolers, inverters, solar panels and the operation of the Strathmore Energy Research Center.

Other activities that took place during the environmental week included the exhibition of the Flipflopi dhow which is made of 100% recycled plastic and flip flops. The dhow seeks to reduce plastic pollution and marine littering. The Student Council, SESC and the Strathmore University Cafeteria also discussed ways to eliminate the single-use plastic straws and water bottles and how to replace them with re-usable bamboo straws and glass water bottles respectively.

 

The article was written by Odhiambo Obonyo

 

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