This article was submitted by Mari-Lou Wong-Chong, Director of Brunswick County Intercultural Festival.
The University of Nairobi celebrated a double victory as Hope Nabalayo and Ariel Major emerged as winners of the Asharami Synergy Creative Writing Competition at an awards ceremony held on 20th February 2024 at KCA University in Nairobi.
This prestigious competition, organized by Asharami Synergy Kenya and the Sahara Group Foundation, aimed to engage Kenyan university students in exploring solutions for a sustainable energy future in Africa.
The competition aimed to foster greater involvement of African youth in conversations around climate change, energy transition, and sustainability on the continent. It received 225 submissions from university students across Kenya who sent in essays, poems, and plays on “creating a sustainable path for Africa’s energy transition.”
The winning entries from Nabalayo and Major stood out for their creativity, originality, and compelling messaging capable of facilitating more participation of young Kenyans in Africa’s pursuit of energy access and sustainability. Their achievement highlights the University of Nairobi’s excellence in nurturing all-around students with the knowledge and passion to tackle pressing global issues like climate change.
An elated Hope said, “Winning this award has validated me as a creative writer. I want to thank Asharami Synergy for giving me and many other students the opportunity to truly express ourselves and contribute to creating sustainable solutions for Africa. As a youth, I now feel empowered to be more vocal on environmental matters affecting the continent.”
On his part, Major, also expressed delight, saying, “This competition is a milestone for me. I am passionate about climate justice and climate change. This is a step towards developing a clean Kenya and clean Africa, which will eventually lead to clean energy and environmental sustainability.”
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, University of Baraton, and Kisii University emerged third, fourth and fifth respectively. The joint winners received $500 each, while the third, fourth and fifth winners received $250, $150 and $100 respectively.
Climate change poses a significant threat to Africa, with more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and changing rainfall patterns already threatening food security and socio-economic progress in many countries. As a leading academic institution in the region, the University of Nairobi continues to equip its students with the knowledge and skills to develop innovative solutions for managing climate change impacts and transitioning towards clean energy for sustainable development in Africa.
The University of Nairobi congratulates Hope and Ariel on their well-deserved achievements. Their victories are a testament to the university’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence and fostering a generation of responsible leaders who can tackle the challenges of our time.
Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash
