Growing up in the indigenous community of Bondo, Kenya, I witnessed firsthand the harsh realities of climate change. Every morning before school, I would walk 6 kilometers with my fellow students just to fetch water. The memory of those long walks under the scorching sun remains vivid – young children carrying water containers, knowing we'd have to make the same journey again in the evening.

Our family, like many others, relied on cattle farming for survival. When severe drought struck our region, it devastated our livestock – our only source of income. I can still remember the day I had to leave school because we couldn't afford the fees after losing our cattle. The nights were equally challenging, as strong winds would sometimes tear the roofing from our house, leaving us to sleep under the open sky.

But hardship breeds resilience. In 2018, inspired by these challenges and driven by a vision of change, I gathered my classmates to take action. We started small – each contributing just 50 Kenyan Shillings to purchase our first ten tree seedlings from James, a local tree nursery farmer. Those first trees, planted in our school compound, marked the beginning of something much bigger than we imagined.

Our youth-led environmental organization grew from this humble start. We began engaging students in climate change discussions, sharing our experiences and knowledge about environmental conservation. What started with ten trees has blossomed into a movement, with our organization now leading various environmental initiatives across the region.

Today, we work tirelessly to ensure no child has to choose between education and basic necessities due to environmental challenges. Our projects include:

• School-based tree planting programs
• Climate change education initiatives
• Water conservation projects
• Youth environmental leadership training
• Community resilience building

The journey from those difficult days to where we are now reminds me that positive change often starts small – sometimes with just 50 Shillings and a dream of a greener future.