Strengthening Youths and Women's Action for the Sustainable Protection of the Guma Water Catchment Area
Full Solution
project sign post
YARDO 2023
The Western Area National Park Forest is home to rich biodiversity and a good source of ecosystem services. It houses the Guma Water Dam, the only source of pipe-borne water for nearby Freetown, a city of 2 million residents.
Despite its ecological and socio-economic benefits, the Forest is challenged with rampant deforestation associated with poor urban planning but mostly economic activities such as charcoal production, timber logging, firewood collection, etc.
The project therefore seeks to address these challenges by:
1. Raising community awareness through the training of community youths on environmental management
2. strengthening the work of the forest guards through capacity building
3. planting 10,000 trees to restore degraded areas within the forest
4. training and supporting 50 women on alternative livelihood
Last update: 26 Jun 2024
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Contexto
Défis à relever
no challenges reported so far
Ubicación
Western Area, Sierra Leone
West and Central Africa
Procesar
Summary of the process
The blocks are complementary to each other in achieving the overall goal of the project; to protect the Guma Water Catchment.
For example, training of youths and forest guards on environmental management will help to raise awareness, and also mobilize actions for restoration of degraded areas within the forest. Whereas, training and supporting women in alternative livelihood skills will create decent jobs for the women, and reduce the economic burden on the forest, thereby reducing deforestation greatly.
Building Blocks
Impacts
50 youths are trained as youth environmental corps
20 forest guards trained and support in forest conservation
10,000 trees planted to restore about 10 ha of degraded ecosystem (watersheds)
50 women trained and supported on alternative livelihood skill
Beneficiaries
Direct Beneficiaries: 120
i. youth trained= 50
ii. women's livelihood skills = 50
iii. forest guards trained = 20
Indirect Beneficiaries= +2,000
residents benefit from reduced erosion and heat stress due to trees planted
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 1 – No poverty
SDG 2 – Zero hunger
SDG 3 – Good health and well-being
SDG 5 – Gender equality
SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation
SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth
SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities
SDG 13 – Climate action
SDG 15 – Life on land
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals
Story
Sara Kamara displaying her work
YARDO 2023
I graduated in 2021 and came back home to Big Water. There has nothing been going on for me like many other graduates since unemployment rates are higher these days. I struggle a lot to take care of myself, my mom, and my son. That’s why when I heard of this amazing opportunity for skill training by YARDO through the support from IKI Small Grants, I embraced it with an eagerness to learn.
Upon completion of my training, I now make my gara tie-dyes and sell them at the beach to tourists. Hopefully, my business will grow over time, and make me self-employed. But I must say, now I have work to do every day, and I am now able to provide food for my family and pay school fees for my kid.
The most amazing thing about this project is how it incorporated strengthening livelihoods and restoration practices. Now, I and many other women will not do any odd job that affects the forest and our well-being as well. No more charcoal production, no more quarrying.
-Sarah Kamara
Beneficiary,
Livelihood Skill Training
See full video of her impact testatment here:
