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[SoH 26-005] Elleen Chebet from kenya : Using sports to fight pollution.
H –
Home Region
My home
region is Nakuru, a growing city known for its beautiful environment, tourism,
and active youth sports culture. Many young people in Nakuru enjoy sports such
as football, athletics, cycling, and basketball. However, as the town continues
to grow, environmental challenges such as air pollution, littering, and traffic
congestion are also increasing.
One major
issue I observed is that many people use motorcycles and cars even for short
distances, which contributes to smoke emissions and poor air quality. Plastic
waste is also commonly seen along roads and around sports grounds. Despite
this, cycling is not widely promoted as both a sport and an environmentally
friendly means of transport.
This
inspires me to create a project that combines sports and environmental
conservation to encourage young people to protect their surroundings while
staying active and healthy.
O –
Overview, Observation & Objective
After
observing different parts of Nakuru this is what I realized….there is
- Increased use of vehicles
leads to air pollution.
- Plastic waste dumped near
roads, playgrounds, and public spaces.
- Limited environmental
awareness among young people during sports activities.
- Few organized community
programs linking sports with climate action.
I also
realized that many young people are passionate about sports and would easily
participate in environmental activities if they were made fun, engaging, and
competitive.
Objective
The main
objective of this project is:
- To promote cycling as a sport
and eco-friendly mode of transport.
- To reduce littering and create
awareness about environmental conservation.
- To encourage youth
participation in climate action through sports.
- To make Nakuru cleaner,
healthier, and greener.
P –
Plan
The “Pedal
Green Nakuru.” The idea is to organize cycling events and environmental
clean-up activities led by young people.
The
project would include:
- Monthly community cycling
events around Nakuru town.
- “Ride and Clean” activities
where cyclists collect litter along their routes.
- Tree planting sessions after
every cycling competition.
- Educational talks on
pollution, recycling, and climate change.
- Encouraging schools to
introduce cycling clubs and eco-sports days.
- Partnering with local
businesses to sponsor reusable water bottles and recycling bins.
To make
the project more exciting, participants would receive certificates, medals, or
recognition awards for environmental leadership and teamwork.
The
campaign slogan would be:
“Ride
for Your Health, Ride for the Earth.”
E –
Execute & Example
To put the
idea into action, I would organize a pilot event involving schools, youth
groups, and local cyclists in Nakuru.
During the
event:
- Participants would cycle
through selected routes while spreading messages about clean air and
environmental protection.
- Teams would stop at designated
areas to collect plastic waste and separate recyclable materials.
- Environmental volunteers would
educate community members on proper waste disposal and the importance of
reducing pollution.
- At the end of the event,
participants would plant trees around schools and sports grounds to
improve the environment.
Photos,
videos, and stories from the event would be shared on social media to inspire
more communities across Kenya to combine sports with environmental action.
The
expected impact of the project includes:
- Cleaner roads and sports
grounds in Nakuru.
- Increased environmental
awareness among youth.
- Promotion of healthy
lifestyles through cycling.
- Reduced pollution through
eco-friendly transport.
- Stronger community involvement
in protecting the environment.
Through “Pedal
Green Nakuru,” sports become more than competition …..they become a
powerful tool for creating a healthier and greener future.
