David Bwakali

David Bwakali (born in 30 May 1976 in Kenya) is a youth leader, environmentalist, journalist and entrepreneur from Kenya.

Sustainability Activism

Bwakali is the Founder and Captain of the Africa Creative Action, an organization that employs the full range of creativity in realizing sustainability.

He is the former national coordinator of the Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) in Kenya and also served on the regional steering committee of AYICC.^[1] This all-[Africa] youth initiative was launched in Nairobi, during the twelfth Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. To provide further visibility for climate change, he founded the Faces of Africa’s Climate and Environment (FACE). This is an initiative that equips young models and professionals to be the clear faces and articulate voices of Africa’s climate and environment. This initiative is now a programme under the Africa Creative Action.

He also served as the coordinator of the Kenya Solargen (Solar generation) project. Solar Generation is made up of young people from all over the world taking action against climate change and calling for a clean energy future. It was initiated by Greenpeace in 2003. Kenya Solargen worked closely with the Inter-varsity environment Network (IVEN). He was the co-founder of IVEN in 2005.

David is also the co-founder of the Solid waste Action by Youth (SWAY), another regional initiative for unifying the efforts of African youth in solid waste management. Apart from working with youth at the grassroots, SWAY sought to ensure African youth representation and participation in the Basel Convention and other global for a for solid waste management.

Between 2003 and 2006, David served as the Africa Regional Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Africa Environment Outlook for Youth Project.^[2][3] This project mobilized over 3,000 youth in 41 African countries to establish a regional environmental network and produce a publication by youth, for youth. He also worked as the editorial coordinator of UNEP's Handbook for Environmental Journalists.^[4] His work with UNEP spanned across three UNEP Divisions - the Division of Early Warning and Assessment, the Division of Policy Development and Law (now defunct) and the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation.

Youth and other social activism

David is also the national coordinator of the Million Youth Action (MIYA), an initiative that is unifying rural and urban youth in Kenya to take united, informed and decisive action towards a better country and continent. MIYA has already held several weekend forums in different parts of Kenya and brought together more than fifty youth organisations.

David has in the past been the president of Kenya Voluntary Development Association, one of the oldest NGOs in Kenya. This NGO has facilitated the voluntary service of hundreds of volunteers from across the world. He is currently chairing the advisory board of Somali Organisation of Community Development Activities, one of the biggest NGOs in Somali. He is also serving as Chairman of the Africa Youth Trust, a trust that spearheads Youth Led Development.

Entrepreneurial work

As an entrepreneur, he is the founder and chairman of A-Soko (Swahili for market), Kenya’s answer to ebay.^[5] He is also the founder and chairman of Sasafrica Productions, a production house that seeks to employ diverse forms of art to unveil Africa. Through this venture, he has produced and directed several documentaries and short movies.^[6]

Journalism

As a writer and journalist, he is the co-founder of Kenya’s chapter of the Independent Media Centre (Indymedia) and co-coordinator of the Maseno University Community Radio Station.

He speaks Swahili, English, French, Spanish and Luhya, his native language.

References

1. ^ http://www.ayicc.org/downloads/AYICC_Structure_Goals_Activities.pdf
2. ^ AEO-for-Youth:Home
3. ^ Africa Science News Service | Reporting about African Science with an African Eye - Jatropha could solve Kenya's energy needs
4. ^ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Environmental Education and Training
5. ^ A-soko.com, think it!, click it!, receive it!
6. ^ sasafrica productions | Home

External links

• http://www.unep.org/dewa/africa/youth
• http://www.unep.org/training
• http://www.africayouthtrust.org
• http://www.sasafrika.com
• http://www.ayicc.org

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Name	Bwakali, David
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Date of birth	30 May 1976
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