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1. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
AYU GREEN CAMPAIGN

2. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
BACK GROUND OF AFRICAN YOUTH UNION (AYU)
The African Youth Union (AYU) is a Pan-African youth organisation that boasts the largest
youth representation in Africa. The AYU seeks to bridge the gap between the youth and
government, and acts as a conduit between the youth and regional bodies such as the African
Union, Southern African Development Community, Economic Community of West African
States and the East African Community, amongst others.
The AYU is mandated to lobby African governments for the implementation of youth centred
policies such as the African Youth Charter. These policies seek to promote and support
entrepreneurship amongst the youth, promote democracy and good governance through ethical
leadership, encourage the mentoring and coaching of young African leaders; prioritise youth
policy based research and to preserve Africa’s natural resources through the AYU Green
Campaign.
The AYU seeks to supplement these state-level processes by deepening the continent’s
integration through a bottom-up process, that places the people (and youth of Africa) at the
centre of regional integration and Pan-Africanism through social entrepreneurship, hosting
summits and events, encouraging collaboration between non-profit organisations, youth
leadership training and development
Initially AYU focused on solely lobbying African governments to implement youth policies. It
conducted several researches that disclosed that many African governments have weak youth
policies while others hardly have "real" youth policies and others never implement what they
have.
The union also found out that youth have no active role in the running of their countries. Youth
are only involved in ceremonial activities which barely make a difference in their lives and their
communities.
In 2013, AYU recommended and advised African governments and regional bodies to desist
from the tradition of involving youth in side events and selective representation. We advised that
youth have to actively participate in the political, social and economic policies and development
of their countries and themselves as individuals.
The Pretoria resolution that was unanimously passed by African Youth during the 3rd summit of
the African Youth Union resolved that all youth should engage in action oriented Pan-
Africanism. As a result, a shift from sole policy work was adjusted to involving community
based work.
AYU Vision
To make African Youth active and productive citizens so as to contribute to a unified, peaceful
and prosperous Africa

3. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
AYU Mission
To empower young Africans to be the architects of the future and to be actual players in the
political, social and economic development of Africa
AYU GREEN CAMPAIGN
The AYU Green Campaign is an initiative of the African Youth Union which forms part of its
programs. The program was launched in March 2014 by the President of the African Youth
Union after attending the climate reality leadership training offered by former US Vice President
and noble laureate Al Gore. The AYU Green campaign seeks to empower young people with
knowledge to protect Africa’s natural resources and to sustainably use them. The campaign will
bring together young Africans to demand action and real change. The time is now to speak out
and spread the truth about climate change so that we empower and inspire others to work toward
solutions.
The AYU Green Campaign raises awareness about climate change and environment, trains and
educates people of all ages with more emphasis on youth and gets into action to prevent more
effects of climate change. Together, we are calling on African leaders to act now and solve this
crisis.
Mission Statement
To unite African young people in action to save, protect and conserve and interact sustainably
with Africa’s natural resources.
Vision Statement
To create generations of young Africans who will be active players in keeping Africa green and
maintaining a healthy environment.
Objectives:
1. To promote sustainable development and to encourage the investment of green business.
2. To raise awareness on climate change and environmental issues.
3. To mobilise the youth to take part in keeping and promoting an environmental pollution
free Africa.
4. To promote greening initiatives, and the planting of trees.

4. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
5. To promote environmental education amongst the youth in order to find green solutions
for the benefit of Africa and its future descendants.
Motto
Keep mama Africa Green
CAMPAIGN DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION
For many years African civilizations have been dependent on the natural environment for
meeting all their needs. Through development, health care advances and other contributory
factors, there has been a tremendous rise in the human population. Increased populations also
meant greater demands were placed on the natural resources and environmental services. This
simultaneously also saw an increase in the amount of waste and pollution generated. It’s
therefore seen that the interactions between people and the environment cannot be separated, but
with the strain our resources have succumbed to over the years, have resulted in the exploitation
of resources at a rapid and unsustainable rate that the future inheritors of Africa will eventually
have very little, if not none of the resources current generations have access to.
It is therefore imperative that as the youth and custodians of these resources, be empowered with
knowledge to protect these resources. That awareness is raised and environmental issues are also
highlighted alongside development issues Africa faces to date. It is equally important that we
develop our people whilst we also protect the resources, which were not only meant to enrich us,
but were also meant to enrich our future descendants who also rightly deserve to inherit these
precious resources, together with a green Africa in which they can also thrive in.
Although political, economic and social inequities of the past have resulted in high poverty rates,
high levels of illiteracy and unemployment, and distorted patterns of resource use and waste
generation. A parallel process between environmental protection, government policies, political
reforms that aim to redress these inequities and to improve quality of life among all Africans
together should co-exist.
Through environmental education and awareness, it is important that impacts of using resources
sustainably and how best to manage these are taught to young Africans, so that human and
environmental needs can be met, now and in the future. The youth should be encouraged to find
sustainable development solutions and sustainable business opportunities. They should be
proactive in protecting their inheritance as custodians of a resource rich continent such as Africa.
The project then seeks to mobilize the youth to be more proactive in resource protection and
management as well as to promote sustainable development.

5. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
Project implementation
1. Fauna and Flora (Biodiversity)
The conservation of biodiversity is important and will aid in preserving current wildlife
for future generations. This will focus on the specific regions indigenous fauna and flora
within the selected geographical areas.
 Biodiversity Protection campaigns to protect those that are listed as
endangered. (e.g. rhino)
 Planting of indigenous trees and plants within the communities.
 Proactive habitat conservation of Natural Areas and Heritage sites.
Outcomes:
 Preserve current wild life for future generations this will also aid in
sustaining eco-tourism.
 Creating greener healthier communities thus increased living conditions.
 Habitat conservation which is also vital for Eco Tourism purposes
2. Water Resources
Africa’s water status has reached a critical stage, where our water demand has exceeded
supply, due to population growth and limited water resources. Recent years have also
seen tremendous pollution in rivers and streams all over the country and across Africa
thus this precious resources that sustains all of life needs to utilized sustainably and
conserved. Although not all have access to this resource, all should take it upon
themselves to protect it and conserve it.
Type of Interventions:
 Water conservation awareness campaigns, educating the youth of the
current water status and how to conserve this resource. Transfer of water
quality sampling skills to the youth
 River and water sources clean up campaigns by the youth and
communities (Rivers are a livelihoods and some depend on it for fishing
and drinking purposes) thus keeping our water sources clean is vital. Skills
on how to remediate water bodies and water sampling skills should be also
imparted onto the youth.

6. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
 Removing alien and evasive species along riverbanks which increase
erosion on the banks and compete with indigenous plants for water.
 Have youth participate in monitoring rivers thus also assisting in
identifying illegal dumping and pollution of the rivers by industry.
Outcomes:
 Added knowledge and awareness on water resource conservation issues.
 Monitoring source that will help identify illegal pollution of water bodies.
 Increased water body quality, through the remediation process.
 Cleaner Rivers and water bodies for communities for both recreational and
domestic use.
 Transfer of water quality monitoring skills.
3. Energy Sources
Energy is a vital source of every household and in the development of any region. Africa
has a diverse variety of how energy sources are utilized within communities and
households. Due to different social demographics energy use differs per community thus
resource specific awareness is needed.
Type of Interventions:
 Energy Efficiency awareness campaigns in both rural and urban areas.
Note: awareness context will differ due to the social differences. In Rural
communities focus should be on how they source, generate and utilize
energy (e.g. the collection of firewood, type of gas they use.). Awareness
campaigns within the rural areas will focus on current methods being used
and how to find effective ways to retrieve energy as well as to assist in
both providing cleaner energy options and identifying energy efficient
consumption patterns.
 Look at empowering youth with renewable energy opportunities and
skills. Empower youth to identify opportunities within their own
communities and seize growing business opportunities within the
renewable energy industry.
Outcomes:

7. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
 Promoting energy efficiency to the youth in both rural and urban
communities
 Find cleaner and efficient energy solutions and alternatives within the
communities.
 Promoting renewable business opportunities amongst the youth.
4. Land use (deforestation, harvesting, agriculture)
In rural communities land use remains a vital factor in their survival. It is therefore
important that the right skills are imparted onto communities on how to make good use of
their land, in the most sustainable manner with minimal degradation of the environment.
Sustainable land use practices are important for communities to reap increased long term
benefits from the land.
Type of Interventions:
 Workshops on sustainable subsistence agricultural, harvesting and land
use practices.
 Proactive campaigning against deforestation and soil degradation practice
s which strip the land of valuable nutrients.
 Increased planting of indigenous plant species in land degraded areas.
Outcomes:
 Increased soil fertility quality due to land rehabilitation, through planting
and sustainable land use practices.
 High subsistence farming crop yields.
 Increased nutrient recycling.
5. Pollution
Pollution is one of the biggest obstacles our environment faces to date. With increased
populations, human consumption levels have also increased thus leading to increased
pollution by both communities and industry. This this has led to numerous environmental
impacts on the human race, such as health issues, resource contamination, food security
and biodiversity loss. It is there for important that pollution is minimised in order
minimise these impacts and for a cleaner and healthier environment for both current and
future generations.
Type of Interventions:

8. African Youth Union Green Campaign
Keep Mama Africa Green
 Environmental awareness campaigns on how pollution impacts communities and
identifying the importance of recycling.
 Promoting the waste/ recycling business opportunities amongst the youth as well
as promoting the creative use of recycled waste to create new products that could
lead to new business opportunities.
 Start remediation projects on polluted resource bodies and get remediation skills
be transferred to the youth.
Outcomes:
 Cleaner and safer communities.
 Assist in identifying business and skills development opportunities in the
growing waste industry.