Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) is a community-based organization engaged in developing sustainable nature conservation programs in the Kikuyu Escarpment Forest. KENVO was formed in 1994 and officially registered in 1996. The major goal of KENVO is to promote conservation of the Kikuyu Escarpment ecosystems, while supporting community livelihoods. KENVO works in a number of key areas including capacity building, forest restoration, youth empowerment, promoting ecotourism, and research.
KENVO has helped improve the livelihood of communities, reduce threats on biodiversity and develop youth leadership. It collaborates with key stakeholders such as government departments, research institutions, private sector, and other development agencies to inform, educate and build the capacity of communities to embrace appropriate conservation practices in a sustainable way.
Vision
A leading biodiversity conservation organization in Kenya
Mission
Sustainable conservation of natural resources in Kikuyu escarpment forest landscape and beyond for livelihood improvement of the local community.
Objectives
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- To promote sustainable biodiversity conservation
- To mainstream climate change in conservation and community livelihood programmes
- To build and enhance financial sustainability
- To develop and sustain appropriate institutional capacity
- To develop and implement comprehensive biodiversity research to boost innovation and entrepreneurship
- To strengthen governance, leadership, and corporate culture
- To establish and strengthen partnerships and linkages of the corporation
- To empower youth in conservation and development
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History
Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) is a non profit making community-based organization formed by members from the local community living adjacent to the globally important Kikuyu Escarpment forests. The idea of the group was conceived in 1992 after the realization that the surrounding forest was becoming degraded due to environmentally destructive practices. Two of the founder members by then had joined the local universities and acquired some knowledge on forests and natural resources. They hatched the idea of a youth group in the form of a ‘think-tank’ which would address environmental issues as a core, but also other wider social issues affecting the youth within this society.
A ‘community think-and-do-tank’ the Kijabe Young Volunteers was created in 1994 to implement the awareness campaign, and it was subsequently officially registered as Kijabe Environment Volunteers (KENVO) in 1996.
A few others joined the group and worked together to conduct a study which established that limited community awareness (of the forest’s value) and poverty were key factors leading to forest degradation. This work prompted the initiation of an awareness campaign on the value and importance of the forest to the adjacent community. Subsequent research has confirmed that most of the solutions to forest predicaments indeed lie with members of the local community themselves.
Core values
The following are our core values:
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- Integrity (uadilifu)
- Professionalism and Teamwork (utaalamu na ushirikiano)
- Equity and Inclusion (usawa na ujumuishaji)
- Volunteerism (kujitolea/hiari)
- Innovation and Creativity (uvumbuzi na ubunifu)
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