Climate Action for Our Land: Climate and Landslide Resilience Initiative

In Muguru ward ,Kangema Sub-County, Murang’a County, landslides have become a recurring and devastating reality for many families living in vulnerable hillside communities. During rainy seasons, changing rainfall patterns linked to climate change continue to increase the severity and frequency of landslides, leading to loss of lives, destruction of farms, displacement of families, destruction of roads and homes, disruption of education, environmental degradation, and long-term psychological distress among affected communities.

For many residents in these rural communities, farming is the main source of livelihood. Families depend directly on tea farming, food crops, and fertile land for survival, income, and food security. However, heavy and prolonged rainfall has increasingly weakened the soil, causing land to collapse and sweep away tea farms (majani shamba), crops, homes, roads, and community infrastructure. In some instances, overflowing rivers caused by intense rainfall have also swept away sections of farmland and increased environmental and economic losses for already vulnerable communities. In many cases, the land becomes unstable and difficult to farm again after a landslide, leaving families economically vulnerable and forcing them to rebuild their lives from nothing.

The destruction caused by landslides goes beyond physical damage. Families are separated during emergencies, some losing loved ones while others lose contact with relatives during displacement and rescue efforts. Homes are buried or destroyed, roads become impassable, and access to essential services becomes difficult. Entire livelihoods disappear overnight as crops, livestock, and productive land are lost. Communities that once depended on agriculture for survival are left uncertain about how to recover.

Children are among the most affected. Schools that are meant to provide learning and stability often become temporary shelters for displaced families. As classrooms turn into refuge centers, school programs are disrupted, learning is interrupted, and many children are unable to continue their education normally. Some children lose books, uniforms, and school materials during disasters, while others struggle emotionally after experiencing displacement and trauma. Education, which should provide hope and continuity, becomes another casualty of climate-related disasters.

Women and children are often the most affected during climate-related disasters. Women carry the responsibility of caring for families in overcrowded shelters while struggling with food insecurity, lack of privacy, emotional distress, and limited access to essential needs. Many women are forced to rebuild households while dealing with trauma, loss of livelihoods, and uncertainty about the future. Climate change therefore becomes not only an environmental issue, but also an issue of gender equality, economic justice, dignity, and survival for vulnerable rural communities.

Beyond the physical destruction, landslides create deep emotional and psychological impacts that are rarely addressed. Families lose loved ones, children experience trauma and displacement, and communities live with constant fear every rainy season. Temporary relocation centers become overcrowded and difficult living environments where food insecurity, lack of privacy, emotional stress, and uncertainty become part of daily life. Many families continue rebuilding while still living under the same environmental risks.

Although humanitarian support is often provided during emergencies, long-term solutions that focus on prevention, preparedness, environmental restoration, climate education, and community resilience remain limited. Many local communities still lack accessible knowledge about climate change, environmental conservation, sustainable farming methods, and practical adaptation strategies. In the absence of this knowledge, communities remain vulnerable to recurring disasters and dependent on emergency relief.

Climate Action for Our Land was founded as a community-centered and action-oriented initiative in response to these recurring challenges. The initiative seeks to empower local communities in Muguru Ward through climate change awareness, environmental education, smart farming practices, psychosocial support, and community resilience-building approaches that address both the immediate and long-term impacts of landslides and environmental degradation.

Rather than focusing only on humanitarian response after disasters occur, the initiative emphasizes prevention, preparedness, adaptation, and sustainable community solutions. The initiative seeks to help local communities understand climate change in simple and relatable language while equipping them with practical knowledge and skills to protect their land, livelihoods, and future generations.

Climate Action for Our Land recognizes that climate resilience is deeply connected to social and economic justice. When farms are destroyed, families lose income, food security, and educational opportunities for children. When roads are damaged and schools become shelters, entire community systems are disrupted. The initiative therefore seeks to address climate challenges through a holistic and community-centered approach that promotes environmental protection, sustainable livelihoods, climate adaptation, community resilience, and social well-being.

The initiative aligns strongly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 on No Poverty, SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 5 on Gender Equality, SDG 11 on Sustainable Communities, SDG 13 on Climate Action, and SDG 15 on Life on Land. It also reflects global priorities promoted by United Nations Environment Programme on climate adaptation, environmental restoration, disaster risk reduction, and protecting vulnerable communities from the growing impacts of climate change.

Campaign Alignment

Climate Change, Climate Resilience, Environmental Protection, Landslide Prevention and Community Climate Adaptation.

Goal

Climate Action for Our Land aims to strengthen climate resilience and reduce landslide vulnerability among communities in Muguru Ward, Kangema Sub-County, by promoting climate awareness, environmental conservation, smart farming practices, psychosocial support, and sustainable land protection strategies. The initiative seeks to empower communities with practical knowledge and community-driven solutions that reduce environmental risks, protect livelihoods, strengthen climate adaptation, and build long-term resilience against climate-related disasters.

Objectives

Raise awareness about climate change, changing rainfall patterns, and environmental degradation within local communities.

Educate farmers and community members on smart farming practices, soil conservation, and climate adaptation methods.

Promote tree planting, land restoration, and environmental conservation to reduce soil erosion and stabilize vulnerable land areas.

Increase community preparedness and awareness of landslide risks and disaster prevention strategies.

Support children and affected families through psychosocial awareness and community support spaces.

Encourage continued access to education and awareness on the impact of climate disasters on learning systems.

Engage youth, women, local leaders, schools, and community groups in climate action and environmental protection efforts.

Strengthen collaboration with NGOs, local stakeholders, environmental groups, and humanitarian organizations to support long-term resilience initiatives.

Vision

A resilient and climate-informed community in Muguru Ward where families are empowered with knowledge, sustainable farming practices, environmental protection strategies, climate adaptation skills, and community support systems that reduce landslide risks, protect livelihoods, and promote safer and healthier living conditions.

Target Groups

Farmers and households living in landslide-prone areas in Muguru Ward.

Women and children affected by displacement and environmental disasters.

Youth groups and schools within Kangema Sub-County.

Community health volunteers and local environmental champions.

Local farmers’ groups and self-help groups.

Community leaders, elders, and local administrators.

NGOs, environmental organizations, and humanitarian stakeholders working in climate and disaster response.

Core Activities

Organize community dialogues and climate awareness forums using simple and accessible language.

Conduct training sessions on smart farming, soil conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable land management practices.

Facilitate tree planting and environmental restoration activities in vulnerable areas.

Carry out landslide risk awareness and preparedness campaigns within local communities and schools.

Create storytelling and psychosocial support spaces for families affected by landslides and displacement.

Engage youth groups in environmental conservation and climate advocacy activities.

Develop educational materials, posters, and awareness campaigns in local languages.

Collaborate with NGOs, local institutions, and stakeholders to strengthen community resilience and sustainable environmental action.

Promote social media awareness campaigns to educate wider audiences about climate change, climate adaptation, and landslide prevention.

Implementation Approach

The initiative uses a community-based and participatory approach that combines climate education, environmental action, psychosocial support, disaster preparedness, and sustainable livelihood strategies. Local communities are actively involved in identifying challenges, sharing experiences, and implementing solutions that reflect their realities and needs. The initiative prioritizes practical, locally adaptable, and long-term approaches that strengthen both environmental and social resilience.

Expected Impact

Increased community understanding of climate change, climate adaptation, and changing rainfall patterns.

Improved adoption of smart farming and soil conservation practices among local farmers.

Reduced environmental degradation and improved land protection through tree planting and restoration efforts.

Increased awareness and preparedness for landslide risks and climate-related disasters.

Strengthened emotional and psychosocial support systems for affected families and children.

Reduced disruption of education through increased disaster awareness and preparedness.

Greater youth and community participation in environmental conservation and climate action.

Stronger collaboration between communities, NGOs, and stakeholders in promoting long-term resilience and disaster prevention.

Sustainability

The initiative aims to train local climate champions, youth leaders, farmers, and community volunteers to continue awareness and environmental protection activities within their communities. Community-based peer education models will help spread climate knowledge and sustainable farming practices across households and local groups. Partnerships with schools, local leaders, environmental organizations, and NGOs will support continuity and long-term impact. Tree planting, environmental restoration, and smart farming activities will also contribute to sustainable land use, climate adaptation, and long-term resilience within the community.

Use of Funds

Funds will support community workshops and climate awareness forums, training materials, tree planting activities, environmental restoration projects, psychosocial support sessions, educational campaigns, local outreach activities, transport and logistics, youth engagement programs, monitoring and evaluation activities, and collaboration meetings with stakeholders and partner organizations.

Founder

Climate Action for Our Land is a youth-led initiative founded to promote climate awareness, environmental protection, smart farming practices, climate adaptation, and landslide resilience among vulnerable rural communities in Kangema Sub-County, Murang’a County.